Kalousek unveils new centre-right party TOP 09
Former Christian Democratic leader and ex-finance minister Miroslav Kalousek has officially unveiled his new centre-right party, TOP 09.
The official announcement had been highly anticipated as the party is expected to draw many members from other centre-right parties. TOP 09, which stands for tradition, responsibility and WHO raises global count of swine flu cases ...
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Karel Schwarzenberg to lead TOP 09
Former foreign minister Karel Schwarzenberg on Thursday confirmed speculation he will be taking the leading role in the new party. One of the Czech Republic’s most popular politicians, Mr Schwarzenberg represented the Green Party in the previous government in the post of foreign minister. Speaking at the official presentation of TOP 09, Mr Schwarzenberg said that he recognised he did not have the support of a part of the Green constituency, but that as a former forester he would remain a proponent of that party’s ideals. His migration to the new centre right party is another part of the ongoing reorganisation of many parties following elections to the European Parliament and the reshuffling of the Christian Democratic leadership. The Green Party chairman and vice chairman also resigned this week
Five indicted after major anti-extremist police raids
The state prosecutor has pressed charges against five of the ten people arrested Tuesday in a series of raids on right-wing extremists. The other five men detained have been released from custody. The police said the raids were the culmination of months of investigation into far-right groups in the Czech Republic. If found guilty of ‘promoting a movement suppressing freedom and human rights’, the individuals charged could face up to eight years in prison.
Controversial art piece “Entropa” returns to Czech Republic
“Entropa”, the sculpture marking the Czech Republic’s presidency of the EU in Brussels has been reinstalled in Prague. Originally planned for display on the National Theatre, the eight-tonne sculpture is now at the Dox Centre for Contemporary Art, where it will remain until the beginning of next year. The controversial work, by artist David Černý, was originally commissioned by the Czech government for the inauguration of its six-month presidency. Its unveiling however caused some diplomatic mayhem when it was realised the countries of Europe were depicted via often unflattering stereotypes. The scandal tested Czech/Bulgarian relations in particular, as the map of Bulgaria adorning the work was made of squat toilets.
Czech Republic excludes fourth case of swine flu
The Czech Health Ministry has ruled out a fourth case of swine flu in the country on Thursday. Two Czechs who had recently arrived from the US were originally diagnosed with the A/H1N1 virus, however one of them is apparently not infected. 193 Czechs have been tested for swine flu since the country reported its first case on May 25 and another 10 days later. The World Health Organisation on Thursday officially declared a pandemic, with over 26,000 infections and 140 deaths reported across 73 countries.
Health Ministry plans no extraordinary precautions over flu pandemic
The Czech Republic’s chief hygiene officer Michael Vít has said no extraordinary preparations will be taken as a result of the announcement of a swine flu pandemic. Mr Vít said the standard procedures agreed by the European Health Ministers Council on Tuesday would continue, but that the low number of cases of infection in the Czech Republic did not warrant further measures. The Health Ministry announced Thursday afternoon that the country is fully prepared for a larger outbreak of the A/H1N1 virus.
Study: only one in three Roma children fluent in Romani language
Academics from Charles University’s Faculty of Arts have found that only one in three Roma under the age of 18 are sufficiently fluent in the Romani to pass the language on to later generations. The study found that roughly the same amount have a passive understanding of the language. The head of the research team, Jan Červenka, said even worse results had been expected due to the heavy language assimilation of recent decades. On the whole, roughly half of the Czech Republic’s Roma population is fluent in the Romani language.
300 police officers involved in special road safety operation in Prague
300 police officers took to the streets of Prague on Thursday in a special traffic safety operation. Police were checking drivers’ papers at dozens of locations from 6 a.m. and focusing on the primary transgressions of driving under the influence and speeding. The operation also included helicopter patrols on the lookout for illegal overtaking and the entry of cargo vehicles into forbidden areas.
Short, powerful storm causes delays, accidents
A storm on Thursday wrought problems for road and rail services, primarily in the western half of the Czech Republic. Hail and high winds brought down tree limbs around the country to cause delays in the rail service and several non-fatal road accidents. Lightning at Prague’s Vršovice railway station disabled safety equipment causing trains to rely on telephone communication until 6 p.m.
Weather
Conditions around the Czech Republic are currently cloudy to partly cloudy with scattered showers in the north and south, and temperatures at an average of 19° Celsius.
(radio-Prague)
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