Czech News 25.6.2014 - 18.6.2014

CR: 25.6.2014

Czech five percent barrier for EP elections could be lifted

The Czech Supreme Administrative Court will recommend to the Constitutional Court that it cancel the current five percent threshold in the elections to European Parliament valid in the Czech Republic, judge rapporteur Tomáš Langášek told journalists on Tuesday. The court panel complied with the complaint lodged by the Green Party; the Czech Pirate Party also presented a similar case in its complaint. The Supreme Administrative Court will suspend both proceedings, awaiting the verdict by the Constitutional Court. In the May elections to the European Parliament, both parties finished not far below the 5 percent threshold with 4.78 percent for the Pirate Party and 3.77 percent for the Greens.

Babiš: New EC president should choose Czech commissioner from list put forward by Prague

The head of the second biggest party in the coalition government, Andrej Babiš of ANO, says the next president of the European Commission should choose from a list of candidates for the Czech commissioner’s post put forward by Prague. ANO and coalition leaders the Social Democrats have to date failed to agree on a nominee to replace Štefan Fuele, who steps down later this year. The Social Democrats’ Jiří Dientsbier said on Wednesday that Mr. Babiš’s suggestion was one possibility. ANO are backing Pavel Telička to become the country’s next commissioner, while the Social Democrats have put forward Pavel Mertlík.

PM praises EU funding system as key solidarity component

European funds aimed at reducing differences among regions in Europe fulfilled European integration goals in terms of solidarity and coherence in the EU, Czech Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka said at a meeting of Visegrad Four prime ministers on Tuesday. The conference, staged by the Hungarian Academy of Sciences and focusing on the V4 (the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia), was also attended by outgoing EC President Jose Manuel Barroso. For citizens, the use of the European funds meant a concrete contribution to integration smoothing economic differences between individual EU member countries, Mr Sobotka added. According to the Czech premier, the Czech Republic and the EU will soon sign a partnership agreement enabling the Czech Republic to draw money within the EU´s new budget period.

Police charge four with corruption at Prague hospital

The police’s anti-corruption unit have charged four people with manipulating a tender to digitise medical records for Prague’s Na Homolce hospital. The four are accused of having conspired to launder money and rig public tenders, the Czech News Agency reported. It said the four, who were arrested following a raid on Wednesday morning, stood accused of causing over CZK 50 million in damages to the hospital. Police raids were also conducted elsewhere, including at a company that administers the hospital’s accounts.

Prague drops fine against PM for appointing cabinet member without clearance

Prague City Hall has thrown out a fine against Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka who had been accused by the Prague 1 authority of a misdemeanour for naming Andrej Babiš to his government despite the latter’s lack of a security clearance. Prague 1 had ordered Mr. Sobotka, who heads the Social Democrats, to pay a fine of CZK 10,000 for giving the ANO chief a cabinet post. The prime minister welcomed the decision.

Man gets five years after metal theft leads to death of woman

A man who caused the death of a woman by stripping metal from the roof of a house has been sentenced to five years in jail. A court in Ústí nad Labem heard how Slovak Koloman Miker cut out a metal girder from the structure of the unoccupied building which collapsed on the woman. Miker’s own mother was also inside the house and was seriously injured in the 2012 incident.

Czech Philharmonic perform to 4,000 at Prague Castle

Czech Philharmonic perform to 4,000 at Prague Castle

The Czech Philharmonic Orchestra performed a free concert to around 4,000 people on Hradčanské náměstí in the Prague Castle complex on Tuesday night. The concert, conducted by Jiří Bělohlávek, featured pieces by Antonín Dvořák, Bedřich Smetana and a number of other composers and brought the orchestra’s 118th season to a close. During the performance, which was broadcast live on Czech TV’s Art station, the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra celebrated the release of the recording DVOŘÁK Complete Symphonies & Concertos.

World renowned Compagnie Marie Chouinard to appear at Prague dance fest

One of the world’s leading dance troupes, Compagnie Marie Chouinard, is set to appear at Prague’s Musical Theatre on Wednesday night as part of the annual Tanec Praha festival. The group, led by Canadian choreographer Marie Chouinard, will perform their renowned interpretation of The Rites of Spring. A repeat performance on Thursday will bring the 26th edition of the dance festival to a close.

Kvitová and Záhlavová-Strýcová into third round at Wimbeldon

Czech tennis players Petra Kvitová and Barbora Záhlavová-Strýcová have reached the third round at Wimbledon. Kvitová, who won the Grand Slam tournament three years ago, on Wednesday overcame Mona Barthel of Germany 6-2 6-0 in just 52 minutes to set up a meeting with former world number one Venus Williams. Záhlavová-Strýcová beat Elena Vesnina of Russia 6-4 6-2 and will now face Li Na of China.

Lev Praha not to take part in Kontinental Hockey League next season

The ice hockey club Lev Praha will not play next season in the Russia-centred Kontinental Hockey League. The Prague club, who reached the finals of the competition’s Gagarin Cup last season, are reported to be in financial difficulties. Lev Praha was the only Czech club in the Kontinental Hockey League in the last two seasons. The Czech News Agency reported that one possibility was that Lev would sit out next season and return in 2015-2016.

24.6.2014

President commemorates WWI soldiers

Czech President Miloš Zeman said on Tuesday that membership in the EU and NATO were guarantees of security for the Czech Republic even as conflict elsewhere in Europe continued; speaking at the Vítkov Memorial in Prague, he warned that hotbeds of war could spread and said that peace was not something guaranteed forever, but needed to be fought for. Mr Zeman made the statements on the occasion the upcoming 100th anniversary of World War I. In his speech, he noted the present-day participation of Czech troops in foreign missions and mentioned conflicts in Mali, Afghanistan and Ukraine. The ceremony, paying respect to those who laid down their lives in the First World War, was attended by former president Václav Klaus, Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka as well as members of the current government and diplomats.

ČEZ reaches 100-million-euro settlement with Albania

The Czech power utility ČEZ is to receive 100 million euros under a settlement with Albania, a spokeswoman for the state-run firm said on Tuesday. The deal ends a row with Albanian authorities over a power-distributing firm, a subsidiary of ČEZ, which was last year stripped of its licence. ČEZ launched arbitration proceedings against Albania, and the Czech government threatened to block granting of EU candidate status to Albania if the dispute was not resolved. ČEZ is to receive the money, which roughly corresponds to the firm’s initial investment in the country, in annual instalments spread over the next four years.

Czechs open new polar station in Svalbard, Norway

The University of South Bohemia in Ceske Budejovice opened the first Czech polar research station in Svalbard, Norway on Tuesday. A house in Longyearbyen was purchased by the university and converted at the cost of 30 million crowns. Longyearbyen that is the administrative centre of the Norwegian archipelago and is the northernmost town in the world. Czech scientists mainly want to use the station between June and September; at the same time, the station can be used throughout the year. Until now, scientists had worked at a leased station; the new station includes two laboratories and accommodation for 20 people.

Municipal Court issues preliminary order preventing eMoneyServices from blocking Opencard

Prague’s Municipal Court has issued a preliminary order preventing the firm eMoneyServices from blocking Prague’s transit pass known as the Opencard. The court took the step based on a complaint filed on Monday by City Hall. The City of Prague administration and eMoneyServices, which holds ownership rights to the multi-purpose data card, are at odds after failing to reach an agreement on the continued operation of the Opencard system at the cost of a proposed half-a-billion crowns. Prague recently took over IT administration of the system but lacks the right to change or re-programme the existing software. eMoneyService spokesman Martin Opatrný told the Czech News Agency he didn’t understand why the city had filed the complaint, saying that EMS had not intervened at all in the card’s use. At the same time, Prague and EMS are still in negotiations, with the city aiming to try and acquire the data card rights.

Police to heighten controls during summer break

Traffic police around the country will increase controls on Czech roads ahead of the upcoming summer holidays in an effort to lower traffic accidents. The month of June registered a markedly higher number of fatalities on Czech roads than last year: 54 people lost their lives in accidents – 27 more than during the same period last year. The first three summer holiday weekends will see the police concentrate on major roads and highways. Between July 21 and 27 they will also focus on tourist busses.

Vysočina lobbies for fifth reactor at Dukovany

Councilors from the region of Vysočina have signed a document supporting the addition of a new – fifth – reactor at the nuclear power plant in Dukovany, which they see as an important source of new jobs and a boost to the quality of life in the region. The governor of the region, Jiří Běhounek, said he had already discussed the matter with both representatives of the Czech energy giant ČEZ, which runs the plant, and government representatives. Dukovany, older than the only other Czech nuclear power plant Temelín, faces routine tests in September by a team of specialists from WANO. The last such tests were five years ago.

International film festival to welcome Hollywood actor Mel Gibson

Oscar-winning actor, director and producer Mel Gibson, 58, will receive the Crystal Globe for Outstanding Artistic Contribution to World Cinema at the opening of the 49th Karlovy Vary International Film Festival on July 4, its president Jiří Bartoška told reporters on Tuesday. Gibson, born in Australia and living in the United States, won two Academy Awards for the 1995 film Braveheart. There will be a screening of Gibson’s Apocalypto, set during the decline of the Mayan empire. The international festival will also welcome French actress and director Fanny Ardant and Hollywood actress Laura Dern (Blue Velvet, Jurassic Park).

Consumer, business confidence up in June

After two months of stagnation, the overall confidence in Czech economy increased in June to 8.3 points, 1.2 points up from the previous month, according to fresh figures by the Czech Statistics Office released on Tuesday. An increase in the business confidence was registered in the service, retail and construction sectors while a slight drop occurred in the industry sector. The consumer confidence index, which rose by 1.2 points month on month in June, however remains at -2.8 points. Analysts say Czech consumers are less concerned about the worsening of the economy but remain worried about their own financial situation and unemployment.

Prague 1 considering hiring security firm to discourage nighttime disturbances

The district of Prague 1 is aiming to hire a private security firm to help enforce ‘quiet time’ during the night, councilor Ivan Solil has said. Current restrictions or limits had not helped in the busy city centre; Mr Solil said he planned to propose a bylaw affecting opening hours of restaurants and bars. The move comes after locals complained repeatedly of disturbances in the late or early hours. The idea of quelling disturbances by hiring local security has so far drawn heated debate; if a firm is hired, its guards would reportedly operate in trouble areas between midnight and 4 AM, contacting the police if need be.

Tennis: Seven Czechs through to Wimbledon’s second round

Seven Czech tennis players have advanced to the second round at Wimbledon including Czech men’s number one tennis player Tomáš Berdych, who defeated Romania’s Victor Hanescu 6-7, 6-1, 6-4, 6-3, and Radek Štěpánek who beat Pablo Cuevas of Uruguay 6-2. 6-4. 6-4. In women’s singles, Petra Kvitová, Lucie Šafářová, Barbora Záhlavová-Strýcová and Tereza Smitková have also booked spots in the Grand Slam's second round.

23.6.2014

Interior Minister: Czech Republic ready to treat more injured Ukrainians

The Czech Republic is ready to provide treatment to more injured people from the east of Ukraine, Interior Minister Milan Chovanec said after a meeting of the country’s security council on Monday. Mr Chovanec said his ministry was working on the extension of its Medevac programme of evacuating Ukrainian citizens in need of medical treatment, following an offer made by the Czech foreign minister, Lubomír Zaorálek, during a visit to Ukraine last week. So far, 39 injured people from Ukraine have received treatment in Czech hospitals since the start of the crisis in that country at the start of the year.

Czechs to assist Ukrainian police reform

Czech experts are likely to join a planned EU mission to assist in reforming Ukraine’s police force, Czech Foreign Minister Lubomír Zaorálek said on Monday. The decision to form a joint mission to help Ukraine with implementing reforms in the areas of security, police and the rule of law was taken at a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels on Monday. The mission is expected to start working in Kiev in the coming months, and should last two years. Mr Zaorálek said it was important the planned mission did not collide with other types of support provided to Ukraine by the EU, OECD, NATO and other organizations.

President slams human rights minister

Czech President Miloš Zeman has criticized the human rights minister, Social Democrat Jiří Dienstbier over his refusal to lead his party’s ballot in the European elections. Mr Dienstbier’s decision hurt the party’s showing at the polls, according to the president’s spokesman who hinted the head of state considered the minister a coward. Jiří Dienstbier, who is one of the president’s most vocal critics in the ruling Social Democrat party, said Mr Zeman’s criticism was silly and unffair; the remarks were also rejected by Prime Minister, and Social Democrat leader Bohuslav Sobotka.

Prague family awarded record 30 million for botched birth

A court in Prague has awarded a record amount of over 30 million crowns for a botched delivery. The court said doctors at the Vinohrady Hospital in the capital in 2009 failed to identify signs pointing to complications during the birth; as a result, the boy was born with a severe damage to his brain and other organs, he is blind and deaf and requires continuous assistance. The boy’s parents have welcomed the verdict while the hospital’s attorney said they would consider appealing the ruling.

State support for Romany high school students dwindled in 2013

The state support for Romany students at Czech secondary schools last year reached 5.6 million crowns, the news agency ČTK said on Monday citing the government’s report on the state of minorities in the country. In 2012, the support amounted to nearly 8 million crowns. Around 740 disadvantaged students received the support last year in the form of contributions for travel expenses, lunches and school equipment.

Central Bohemian governor resigns amidst party infighting

The governor of the Central Bohemian Region, Social Democrat Josef Řihák, has stepped down, after a year and a half in his post. No official reason for Mr Řihák’s resignation has been given although his decision comes after mounting calls for him to step down from Social Democrat leader in the region who have complained about the governor’s nominations for some of the key positions in the region’s administration. Mr Řihák is likely to be replaced by his main party rival, deputy governor Miloš Petera.

Karol Sidon to step down as chief Prague rabbi

The chief rabbi of Prague, Karol Sidon, has announced he will resign as of July 1st, after 22 years in the post. The 71-year-old Sidon will retain his position as the chief rabbi of the Czech Republic. The head of the Prague Jewish Community, Jan Munk, said the rabbi’s age as well as the fact that another rabbi had well adapted to serving the community, were the main reasons behind Karol Sidon’s decision. Karol Sidon, who converted to Judaism in 1978, was an anti-communist dissident, and in the 1980s left Czechoslovakia for Germany under pressure from the communist secret police. He has written several novels and theatre plays; most recently, he authored a best-selling novel under the pseudonym of Chaim Cigan.

Czech ballerina Daria Klimentová retires from English National Ballet

A court in the Czech capital has awarded a Prague family a record amount of over 30 million crowns in compensation for the botched delivery of their son. The court said doctors at the Vinohrady Hospital in the capital in 2009 failed to identify signs pointing to complications during the birth; as a result, the boy was born with a severe damage to his brain and other organs, he is blind and deaf and requires continuous assistance. The boy’s parents have welcomed the verdict while the hospital’s attorney said they would consider appealing the ruling.

UK director Peter Greenaway announced as main guest of Uherské Hradiště film festival

The British director Peter Greenaway will be main guest at the 40th annual Summer Film School festival in Uherské Hradiště, the organizers said on Monday. The director is set to present his latest movie Goltzius and the Pelican Company at the festival which takes places in the eastern Czech town between July 25 and August 2. The Summer Film School this year focuses on Spanish cinema as well as on filmmakers from the Visegrad countries, and will offer a retrospective of the French director and screenwriter Michel Godry.

Tennis: Four Czechs through to Wimbledon’s second round

Czech men’s number one tennis player Tomáš Berdych defeated Romania’s Victor Hanescu 6-7, 6-1, 6-4, 6-3 in the first round at Wimbledon on Monday to advance to the tournament’s second round. Radek Štěpánek has also advanced after defeating Pablo Cuevas of Uruguay 6-2. 6-4. 6-4. In women’s singles, Lucie Šafářová beat Germany’s Julia Görges 7-6, 7-6 while Barbora Záhlavová-Strýcová defeated Alla Kudryatseva 6-2, 6-2, and are also through to the Grand Slam’s second round. Another 11 Czech players including sixth seed Petra Kvitová are yet to appear in the opening round at Wimbledon.

22.6.2014

Hundreds honour memory of Czechs murdered in Ležáky

Hundreds of people, including members of the military and the Czech president, attended a ceremony on Sunday in Ležáky in the Chrudim area, to honour the memory of 52 people murdered there by the Nazis in 1942. The town was razed to the ground, following Lidice, as reprisal for the assassination of the 'Butcher of Prague’, Nazi governor Reinhard Heydrich. All of the adults were executed and 11 children sent to the Chełmno extermination camp where they were gassed. In a speech on Sunday to mark the 72 anniversary, the president expressed deep gratitude that Czech resistance fighters had fought for freedom with the utmost courage and sacrifice. Among those who attended the ceremony were two sisters, Jarmila and Marie Šťulíková, who are the sole survivors of the Ležáky massacre. After the war, the village of Ležáky was rebuilt with a memorial on the site of the original buildings which had been destroyed.

Czech military asked to continue in new mission

General Petr Pavel, the head of the General Staff of the Czech Armed Forces, met at the weekend in Afghanistan with the head of ISAF General Joseph Dunford who expressed the hope Czechs there would continue their work in the country even after NATO combat operations wrapped up. The aim is to help Afghan security forces in the new coming period, under a new mission to be called Resolute Support. Czech personnel staying on in Afghanistan would presumably serve at an American military hospital, train Afghan forces and help with security at the base at Bagram. General Pavel said the Czech Army was prepared to do its part; the mandate for the years 2015 and 2016 will, however, have to be approved in the Chamber of Deputies.

Monday will see 30th anniversary of release of Czechs and Slovaks held captive in Angola

This Monday, June 23rd, marks 30 years that twenty Czechs and Slovaks were released by UNITA rebels in Angola, returning home after some 15 months in captivity. Those abducted in 1984 had to complete a march of more than 1,300 kilometers while in captivity. One of the hostages did not survive. Lubomír Sazeček, one of those held prisoner, spoke to the Czech News Agency on the occasion of the anniversary, saying he never gave up on Africa, but still held the rebels, who assumed power, responsible. In all, 66 Czechoslovak men, women and children were held hostage, but the 20 were the last released. The Czechs and Slovaks were in Angola in the 1980's to help resurrect and run the Angola Cellulose and Paper Company in the area of Alto Catumbela.

Prague mayor remains atop candidates list

TOP 09’s regional committee has confirmed that Prague Mayor Tomáš Hudeček will remain atop the party’s candidate list in Prague in upcoming communal elections. Some members held the view Mr Hudeček should be removed from the list over the Opencard case, which is due to go to trial. Legal proceedings have been launched against 15 city councillors and two mayors, former and present, over the controversial data card which serves most commonly as a transit pass. The majority was in favour, of the mayor staying on. Second on the list is Mayor Hudeček’s deputy, Jiří Nouza; fourth is former hockey goalie Petr Bříza. The elections take place this autumn.

Czech TV: Prague sent key parts of MUS verdict

Prague has been sent key parts of a Swiss court verdict on the case of the Czech MUS coal mining company, which could help the Czech state regain a part of the 14 billion crowns linked to the suspicious privatisation of MUS now blocked on Swiss accounts, Czech TV reported Saturday. The Finance Ministry confirmed it has received the documentation. The Finance Ministry previously asked the Swiss for the parts of the verdict which related to the Czech Republic. The ministry’s spokesman said only that the documents received were being analyzed before further steps would be considered.

Ten-year-old airlifted to hospital after suffering 12-metre fall at Žebrák

A 10-year-old boy had to be airlifted to hospital on Sunday after suffering a 12-metre fall at the popular tourist destination of Žebrák, castle ruins in the area of Beroun outside of Prague. The boy suffered multiple injuries and was in critical condition. He was taken to Prague's Motol hospital. The boy had been accompanied by adults on the trip, who were apparently looking for a hidden geocaching item at the time of the accident, the Czech News Agency reported.

Student found dead after apparent fall from cliff

A 17-year-old student missing for two days in the area of Kokořín has been found dead, a police spokesman revealed on Sunday. A search involving dozens of police officers and fire fighters preceded the discovery. The boy was last seen on Friday during a school trip. he had told others he was going for a walk shortly after 12 AM. He is believed to have fallen from a cliff in the area.

21.6.2014

Czech PM: Leftists will back Juncker nomination

Leftist European leaders have agreed to back the nomination of former Luxembourg prime minister Jean-Claude Juncker to head the European Commission. The next head will succeed Jose Manuel Barroso. Speaking to the Czech News Agency after meeting with French President Francois Hollande and other leftist leaders in Paris, Czech Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka said the European Left, as he saw it, would expect visible posts in the next commission in return for its support and would seek the post of speaker of the European Parliament.

Audit uncovers dozens dubious transactions at Service Facilities Administration of technical university

An audit commissioned by the finance officer of ČVUT Jan Gazda has uncovered numerous dubious transactions by the Service Facilities Administration at the university. Czech daily Lidové noviny writes that between 2007 and 2011 there were dozens of legal transgressions, from overpriced purchases to machinations in public tenders to a failure to properly end contracts. The damages have been estimated in the tens of millions of crowns, says the paper. Police are conducting an investigation after the university filed charges against unknown perpetrators.

Daily: Czech who travelled to Ukraine to fight alongside pro-Russian separatists could face legal trouble at home

A Czech national who appeared in a broadcast on Russian television taking part in a pro-Russian demonstration in Ukraine, could face legal difficulties upon his return home, the Czech daily Mladá fronta Dnes reports. In the video, the man - dressed in battle fatigues - introduced himself as Ivo Stjeskal from Brno and claimed he had travelled to Ukraine to help fight alongside pro-Russian separatists defending Donbas. The Czech daily points out that the national, reportedly a former elementary school gym teacher, was not only required to respect Ukrainian but also Czech law. According to the Czech Justice Ministry, the Czech may have broken the law by illegally serving in a foreign army, a crime which carries a potential five-year sentence.

No final decision yet on Blanka Tunnel

An arbitration court had not yet reached a final decision in the Blanka Tunnel case, in which the construction firm Metrostav and the City of Prague are at odds. The court did approve a list of items to be completed at the cost of 40 million crowns, Deputy Mayor Jiří Nouza told the Czech News Agency. An earlier court decision stated that Prague had to pay a remaining 4 billion crowns, while Metrostav had to complete the tunnel by September. No opening date for the tunnel has yet been set and will hinge on the installation of technology for the running of the entire complex.

Police will have to apply parking boots before cars can be towed

The Chamber of Deputies on Friday passed legislation which will make it more difficult to tow vehicles in No Parking zones or areas where motorists parked without a permit or paying. Under the amendment to the traffic law, police will first to have to apply a wheel clamp, commonly known as a Denver or parking boot, giving car owners 24 hours to respond. Vehicles will only be towed after that if owners failed to contact the police. The changes will effectively prevent MPs and senators from ever having their cars towed: under the law, police are not allowed to use parking boots on lawmakers’ vehicles. The bill will still have to be approved by the Senate.

Pospíšil gives up Parliamentary mandate

Former justice minister Jiří Pospíšil has given up his post as an MP in the Czech Chamber of Deputies. Pospíšil, a former Civic Democrat who joined the centre-right party TOP 09, was one of four TOP 09 candidates in May elected to European Parliament. In all in the European elections, 21 MPs representing the Czech Republic were elected. Pospíšil is expected to be replaced by former Civic Democrat MP Vladislav Vilímec.

Accident backs up traffic six kilometres

A traffic accident on Friday afternoon saw marked delays on the D1 highway from Prague in the direction of Brno. The crash, involving two vehicles, was not serious but took place in an area undergoing reconstruction not far from the capital. Movement along the highway slowed to a crawl, with cars becoming backed up six kilometers. Traffic jams on the D1 have become a regular occurrence since an extensive and long-planned renovation of parts of the highway began. Motorists, especially on peak days, are advised to monitor the situation either over the internet or the airwaves, to try and avoid long delays.

20.6.2014

President: Czech Republic should drop visa requirement for Russians

Czech President Miloš Zeman has told Russian news agency ITAR-TASS the Czech Republic should lift visas as quickly as possible for citizens of the Russian federation. He expressed the opinion in connection with sanctions faced by Russia over the Ukraine crisis, saying he saw no reason for the EU to isolate Russia. Nor did he see the need for sanctions, blockades or embargoes. Mr Zeman expressed the view that isolation had never led to success but only deepened misunderstanding and mistrust. The president’s spokesman pointed out that Mr Zeman’s view that economic sanctions were “counterproductive” is one that he has long held. The head of the Czech Association of Travel Agencies confirmed, meanwhile, that the Czech Republic has seen 40 percent fewer Russian tourists this year, due in part to developments in Ukraine, but also, due to the lengthy protocol and cost of obtaining a visa.

Amazon gives up plan to build distribution centre in Brno

US Internet giant Amazon has given up plans to build a distribution centre in a Brno industrial zone and is looking for other locality in Central and Eastern Europe, Amazon´s spokesman for the Czech Republic Karel Taschner has told the Czech News Agency. Amazon was promising investment of almost 3 billion crowns and creation of 1,500 jobs in Brno. Locals, however, expressed concern over increased road traffic which they consider to be beyond tenable already. The Amazon spokesman for the Czech Republic made clear that Amazon was still open to looking for further opportunities in the Czech Republic, given European market growth. One project is going ahead: the construction of Amazon´s distribution centre in Dobroviz near Prague, set to begin in the near future.

State Attorneys’ Office files suit in Opencard case

The Prague State Attorneys’ office has filed a suit against 15 people in the Opencard case, among them former and current city councilors and a former as well as the current mayor. The Opencard scandal concerns dubious public tenders and work carried out to develop a multipurpose data card for the city. Current Prague Mayor Tomáš Hudeček and former mayor Bohuslav Svoboda as well as council members are suspected of breaking fair competition rules and abuse of public office. All those implicated have maintained they are innocent.

Worst ever results recorded for state school leaving exams

Results from school leaving exams are the worst this year since the new system was introduced in 2011. The overall failure rate climbed to 18.7 percent of those taking the exams for the first time. That compares with the 16.2 percent failure rate from 2013 according to centre which prepares the exams. The worst results were for mathematics, with around a quarter of pupils failing, and German, where around one in five failed to reach the required level. Around 10 percent of pupils failed to pass in English.

Brno hands down jail sentence for solar power plant fraud

A court in Brno has handed down a six-year prison sentence to the owner of a solar power plant who fraudulently got it registered for high renewable power payments. The owner got technicians to falsely say that the plant was completed before 2010 so that it could benefit from high state subsidies. At the time the solar panels and other equipment was not installed and the plant was not actually up and running until February 2011. One of the technicians was sentenced to five years. The court also demanded 12 million crowns to be reclaimed from the owner. A raft of similar cases are expected to come before Czech courts.

Social Democrat accuses Catholic Church of Nazi collaboration

A Social Democrat member of the lower house of Parliament caused an uproar in the chamber on Friday when he accused the Catholic Church of being one of the biggest partners of the Nazi regime in Germany. Igor Jakubčík added that the church has also agreed to the expulsion and murder of Jews during the Second World War and helped Nazis at the end of the war to escape to South America. He was speaking during the debate on an amendment to current restitution rules which would give more time to examine church demands for property confiscated during the Communist era. Jakubčík's remarks were attacked by members of the Christian Democrat party and the right-of-Centre Civic Democrats. He latter said that he had nothing against the current church and regretted what had happened after the Communist takeover in 1948.

Czech scientist creates uproar with abortion advice to expectant mothers

A leading Czech scientist has created uproar with an article in a journal suggesting that pregnant mothers who expected their babies would have severe disabilities should undergo abortions. Miroslav Mitlöhner has in the aftermath of the article resigned as director of a university institution and member of an advisory council at the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs. Mitlöhner in an interview said afterwards that some of the comments attributed to him were quotations from other authors but stood by the overall contents of his article.

Pensions to increase in 2015

Lawmakers in the Chamber of Deputies passed a government amendment on Friday which is expected increase pensions for seniors next year by an average of 200 crowns per month. One hundred and twenty-four MPs voted in favour out of 154 present, well above the majority needed. The bill revives automatic pension increases based on one-third of the growth of real-wages and inflation numbers. The move was welcomed by the prime minister who slammed the Civic Democrats and TOP 09 of the former austerity government, saying they had “deprived pensioners of billions of crowns”.

Prague chemistry institute opens unique new building

A unique modern building belonging to the Czech Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry (made famous by the late scientist and researcher Antonin Holý) officially opened in Prague on Thursday. The new site, nickenamed "the cauliflower" by its employees, cost more than one billion crowns to complete - without state subsidies but from profits from Professor Holy´s patents for medicinal formulas that have been used worldwide in medicines against AIDS, smallpox, shingles and Hepatitis B. The innovative building was designed by architects Ivan Šrom and Kateřina Mašková, from the VPU Deco Praha studio.

Helicopter crash-lands in field outside Prague

Two people had to be treated in Prague hospitals for suspected spinal injuries following a helicopter crash-landing on Friday morning. The two-person aircraft came down shortly before 9 AM in a field near the R-10 highway outside the capital. There was no fire, nor any evidence of a gas leak; the two aboard had to be freed by a rescue crew. According to information available, the small helicopter was owned by a private company and had been headed to an airshow in Hradec Králové.

19.6.2014

PM Bohuslav Sobotka calls for quick decision on EU Commission head

Czech prime minister Bohuslav Sobotka has said the Czech Republic is looking for a quick decision on who should be the new president of the European Commission. Mr. Sobotka said he would like to see agreement reached at a meeting in Brussels at the end of next week. He added that Prague is ready to back the centre-right candidate for the job, former Luxembourg premier Jean-Claude Juncker. Junker was the outright favorite to occupy the post following last month’s European Parliament elections. But support for him has been slipping with some European leaders, such as the British prime minister, outspokenly opposed to Junker.

Czech army likely to offer troops for Afghan, Mali, and Sinai missions

The Czech army is prepared to offer its forces for NATO missions in Afghanistan and Mali and in the Sinai peninsula next year and in 2016, according to the Ministry of Defense. Czech aircraft will also be offered to protect NATO airspace in 2016, probably in the Baltic States and over Iceland. A final proposal on the foreign missions should be prepared with in the next couple of weeks in order for the lower house of parliament to vote on it. The current Czech presence in Afghanistan totals 300 with the likelihood that it could be cut slightly but not increased, according to Minister of Defence Martin Stropnický. Thirty-eight Czechs are serving in Mali and 14 on the international observer mission in the Sinai.

Anti-corruption team to be created at defense ministry

In related news, defense minister Stropnický says that a special anti-corruption team will be created which will be directly answerable to him. The minister said the three-member team was being created because of the many dubious contracts signed in recent years. He added that a series of significant tenders, such as for information technology will probably be staged again because of suspicions about them. The new team should be up and running from the start of July.

European court rules against Czech tax provisions

Part of the Czech tax law is at odds with European rules according to a decision issued Thursday by the European Court. The court said that Czech law wrongly forced companies employing workers hired through foreign based jobs agencies to pay taxes locally. If, however, the agency had a local branch in the Czech Republic then the agency itself paid the tax. The court said the rules amounted to a discrimination against foreign based agencies whose services were made less attractive to local firms and amounted to a certain limitation on the free movement of services.

Czech Airlines makes heavy loss in 2013

Czech Airlines plunged to a loss of just over 920 million crowns last year on turnover of 13.3 billion crowns. That’s the worst full year result for the airline since 2009. Sales of assets had in previous years help to cushion the impact of operating losses from the core airline business. The airline is currently facing a downturn in demand on flights to Ukraine and other parts of the former Soviet Union. Korean Airlines has a 44 percent stake in Czech Airlines with domestic carrier Travel Service waiting to be cleared to take a 34 percent stake.

Court calls for near 40 year old drugs compensation case to be reopened

The Czech Constitutional Court called on Thursday for an almost 40 year case to be reopened. The case concerns a woman who was mistakenly prescribed drugs in 1975 which sparked a reaction which almost killed her and left her with permanent disabilities. The most serious reaction was Lyells syndrome, a condition which causes skin to detach from the rest of the body. The woman was originally awarded half a million crowns with later court decisions confirming that award on the grounds that the case had been closed with that compensation award. The latest decision paves the way for her to receive a much more significant settlement.

Czechs relocate east Ukraine honorary consulate to Dnepropetrovsk

Czech foreign minister Lubomír Zaorálek on Thursday opened an honorary consulate in the east Ukraine city of Dnepropetrovsk. The move was forced by the closure of the consulate around 200 kilometres to the east in Donetsk because of fighting between government and separatist forces. Minister Zaorálek said the opening was a signal that the Czech government was not quitting the region and that business could return and invest. He said Dnepropetrovsk with its one million inhabitants is the third biggest city in Ukraine and perhaps an even more important industrial centre than Donetsk.

Distributor of methanol-laced liquor accepts 15-year prison term

A 54-year-old man convicted of distributing methanol-laced liquor has accepted a 15-year prison term, his attorney told the news agency ČTK on Thursday. The man was found guilty of serving as the main distributor of the deadly mix that killed around 50 people in the Czech Republic over the past two years. He was sentenced along with nine other people in May; another two men, convicted of consciously adding the deadly methanol into bootleg liquor, landed life sentences.

Police investigate death of pregnant woman in Orlová

The police are investigating the death of a 32-year-old pregnant woman in Orlová in northern Czech Republic, a police spokesman said. The police assume the woman arrived at a private diabetes ward at the local hospital on Wednesday morning for a routine test; however, she was given a disinfectant instead of glucose. The doctors realized the mistake a few hours later and asked the police for assistance but the woman was found dead in her home. The person responsible for the tragic mistake faces up to six years in prison, the police spokesman said.

Petra Kvitová pulls out of Eastbourne quarter final

In tennis, Petra Kvitová has been forced to withdraw from her quarter final match against British opponent Heather Watson at Eastbourne. The Czech number one women player cited muscle problems. The Eastbourne tournament is a tradition warm up for Wimbledon, which starts next Monday. Former Wimbledon winner Kvitová’s injury will raise doubts whether she will be able to compete in the Grand Slam event.

18.6.2014

Czech Republic stays 17th in EU wealth survey

The Czech Republic is ranked 17th in the EU in GDP per capita, according to a Eurostat survey released on Wednesday. Its gross domestic product is at 80 percent of the EU average. The country, which was ranked 17th in several previous years as well, is the richest of former Communist nations with the exception of Slovenia, and also outranked Portugal and Greece. However, in actual individual consumption per capita, which also reflects economic well-being, the Czech Republic is ranked 22nd of the EU, and is at 72 percent of the bloc’s average, according to Eurostat.

Minister: Czech Republic ready to help Slovakia with gas supplies

The Czech Republic is ready to assist Slovakia in case gas supplies through Ukraine are halted, the Czech industry and trade minister, Jan Mládek, said. Speaking after a conference on economic cooperation between the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Poland in Ostrava on Wednesday, Mr Mládek said Slovakia could receive gas through reverse flow from Czech pipelines. The Czech cabinet is also in talks with the Polish government on enhancing the capacity of the Czech link to Poland’s Stork II pipeline in north Moravia, Mr Mládek said.

MPs approve cyber security bill

The lower house of the Czech Parliament on Wednesday approved a bill introducing new guidelines for countering cybernetic attacks. The bill, first of its kind to be passed by the lower house, should streamline cooperation between the public and private sectors, and establish a coordinating agency to ensure a fast response to such attacks. The legislation will also require telecommunication providers to report security incidents that occur in their networks, and allow the country’s National Security Authority to declare a state of cyber emergency. The bill is yet to be debated in the Senate.

PM says justice minister must improve performance or face chop

Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka says that the minister of justice Helena Válková has one last chance to prove she is capable of doing her job. The Social Democrat PM made the comment on Tuesday evening after Ms. Válková, appointed by ANO, dismissed the deputy justice minister for prisons, Pavel Štern, a Social Democrats’ appointee, over his handling of a contract to buy electronic tags. Mr. Sobotka said if the minister’s performance did not improve she would have to go. Ms. Válková’s disputes with subordinates have been in the news since Hana Marvanová quit as first deputy justice minister in early June.

Czech MEP joins Euro-sceptic faction

Czech MEP Petr Mach, the sole deputy elected on the ballot of the Euro-spectic Free Citizens' Party, has joined the Europe of Freedom and Democracy group in the European Parliament. The faction, headed by UKIP's leader Nigel Farage, has 48 MEPs from UKIP, Italy's Five Star Movement, Sweden Democrats, and others.

Czechs commemorate Heydrich’s assassins

President Miloš Zeman, Defence Minister Martin Stropnický, and other officials as well as veterans and members of the public have commemorated the British-trained commandos who assassinated high-ranking Nazi official Reinhard Heydrich. Wednesday marks on the 72nd anniversary of their death. Jan Kubiš and Josef Valčík, along with five other soldiers parachuted into Bohemia, took their own lives after having been cornered by Nazi forces in a Prague church, three weeks after the assassination. Speaking at a ceremony held at the church, Defence Minister Martin Stropnický said the Czech Republic owed its existence to heroes like them.

Pneumococcal infections highest in three years

Czech doctors last year registered 424 cases of invasive pneumococcal infections, the highest number in three years, according to figures by the National Institute of Public Health released on Wednesday. 69 people died of the infection last year. Experts say the rise has been caused by low immunization levels; in Prague, immunization levels in children have fallen below 50 percent. The sharpest increase has been registered with the 19A serotype which was last year contracted by 27 people, including four babies of up to 11 months of age.

Prague Pride to take place on August 16

The annual Prague Pride parade will take place on August 16, the organizers said. The march will take start in Wenceslas Square; it will then pass along the river to conclude on the Letná plain. Organizers said they expect some 10,000 people to take part in the march which will be preceded by a five-day festival. This year, the festival will highlight issues faced by the LGBT community in Russia and some other eastern European countries, the event’s director, Czeslaw Walek, said. Last year, around 20,000 people joined in the march.

Medical association honours founder of Czech paediatric oncology

The founder of paediatric oncology in then Czechoslovakia, Professor Josef Koutecký, received on Wednesday the Purkyně Award from the Czech Medical Association of J.E. Purkyně in recognition of his life-time work. Professor Koutecký founded that branch of medicine in 1964; in 1978, he established the department of paediatric oncology at Prague’s Motol hospital, the first of its kind in the country, which played a crucial role in raising survival rates of children cancer patients to the current 80 percent. At Wednesday’s ceremony, Professor Koutecký said he was humbled to be awarded the prize, handed out since 1962.

Tennis: Berdych, Kvitová seeded sixth at Wimbledon

Both the top Czech male and female tennis players, Tomáš Berdych and Petra Kvitová, have been seeded sixth at the Wimbledon championships which begin on June 23. Lucie Šafářová, meanwhile, will be seeded 23rd and Klára Koukalová 31st at the Grand Slam tournament. In the Wimbledon doubles, Czech Republic’s Radek Štěpánek and India’s Leander Paes will be fifth seed while Czech Květa Pescheková along with Slovenia’s Katarina Srebotnik third.

Veselý wins javelin in Ostrava with world’s second longest throw of season

Czech athlete Vítězslav Veselý came first in the javelin at the Golden Spike meeting in Ostrava on Tuesday evening. Veselý’s throw of 87.38m was the second longest in the world this year. US sprinter Justin Gatlin – the best known name this year at the Czech Republic’s biggest meeting – won the 100m in a time of 9.86 seconds. Olympic champion Barbora Špotáková has been forced to pull out of the women’s javelin due to health problems.