Government rejects referendum on US radar base
The government on Wednesday rejected the proposal of Communist deputies to enact a one-off referendum on the stationing of a US Largest number of children since 1993 born in CzechRep last year ...
Czechs critical of work of their MEPs-poll ... radar base in the Czech Republic.
The Communist Party says the radar would infringe on the country’s security and sovereignty. The proposal is yet to be assessed by Parliament. Previous proposals to hold a public referendum on the radar failed to win approval. The ruling Civic Democrats, who are against the plebiscite, are strong enough to block the law on a referendum in both the Lower House and the Senate.
Foreign minister: Czech Republic likely to ratify Lisbon Treaty
The Czech Parliament will most likely ratify the Lisbon Treaty on the future arrangement of the EU, Foreign Minister Karel Schwarzenberg said after a meeting of ten EU foreign ministers in Paris on Tuesday. If the treaty is ratified by the end of the year, the Czech Republic will be the first country to take up the rotating EU presidency in line with the new model. Migration and the role of new EU institutions, as outlined in the Lisbon Treaty, were also on the agenda of the talks.
Radar treaty to give Czechs preferential protection
The main Czech-American treaty on the stationing of a US radar base on Czech soil will guarantee preferential protection against a missile attack to Czechs, the Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday. The Czech Republic will be also able to participate on the development of plans for anti-missile protection in Europe.
Under the treaty, the Czech Republic will be responsible for providing external security for the US radar base on Czech soil and the base will be guarded by Czech military police. The US will be responsible for internal security and order at the base and the radar will be guarded by US troops. The agreement is yet to be approved by the Czech Parliament.
Prague City Council against littering
Prague City Council has approved a strict regulation to prevent littering. Under the new regulation, the police can slap fines of up to 1,000 crowns on anyone caught tossing cigarette butts or chewing gums onto the street. People will also face fines for feeding pigeons or not cleaning up their dogs’ excrement. The regulation still has to be approved by the city assembly.
Judges oppose the ban on physical punishment
The Czech Judges’ Union objects to an absolute ban on the physical punishment of children as proposed by the minister in charge of human rights and minorities Džamila StehlÃková and supported by the Council of Europe. The president of the Judges’ Union JaromÃr Jirsa told the daily Právo that a total ban would not reduce the physical abuse of children. He said the state should not interfere unreasonably in family life.
Four million crowns raised for Burma
Czech humanitarian organisations have raised about 4 million crowns in aid of the victims of the devastating cyclone in Burma. The biggest sum, over 3 million crowns, was raised by the NGO People in Need. The Foreign Ministry last week earmarked five million crowns for the devastated region. Czech humanitarian workers are also helping directly in the areas hit by the cyclone.
Slav Epic by Mucha to be displayed in Prague
Prague City Council would like to bring the Slav Epic, a collection of huge paintings by Alphonse Mucha, to Prague despite the fact that it has failed to meet the artists’ condition to build a special pavilion for the works. Mucha donated the paintings to Prague in 1913 but they were only displayed in the Czech capital once, in 1928. For the past 45 years the Slav Epic has been exhibited in the town of Moravský Krumlov which is not happy about having to give up the treasure, pointing out that not having built a suitable gallery for the works Prague does not have the moral right to take possession of them.
Norwegian airplane makes emergency landing in Prague
A Norwegian Air Shuttle airplane carrying 131 passengers had to make an emergency landing at Prague’s Ruzyně Airport on Wednesday afternoon, after the pilot reported a fire onboard. The plane, owned by a low-cost Norwegian airline, landed safely and no rescue operation was needed.
Czechs exit World Ice Hockey Championships at quarter-final stage
The Czech Republic have been knocked out of the World Ice Hockey Championships in Quebec, after losing 3:2 to Sweden in overtime on Wednesday. The Czechs had been just four minutes from advancing to the semi-finals when Sweden equalised to make it 2:2 in regular time. It is the second year in a row that the Czech Republic have exited the World Championships in the quarter-finals. Coach Alois Hadamczik announced he was stepping down after Wednesday’s defeat.
Å Ãrl wins UEFA Cup with Zenit St Petersburg
Radek Å Ãrl has become the fifth Czech football player to win the UEFA Cup. His Zenit St Petersburg beat Glasgow Rangers 2:0 in Wednesday’s final in Manchester. The former Bohemians midfielder was widely praised for a superb tackle which denied Rangers a chance on goal in the first half. Å Ãrl has been with the Russian club for five years.
Nedvěd not to play at Euro 2008
Veteran Czech midfielder Pavel Nedvěd will not represent the Czech Republic at the European football championship Euro 2008 held in Austria and Switzerland this summer. His name is not included on the list of the 23 players nominated for the final preparations in Austria, which was announced on Wednesday by the national team’s coach Karel Bruckner. The 35-year old Nedvěd on Tuesday signed a one-year contract extension with Juventus that will last until the end of June 2009.
Weather
The following days are expected to remain mostly sunny, with occasional showers. Daytime temperatures should reach 24 degrees Celsius.
(radio-Prague)
<< Back