Thursday News Briefing

NEWS

TOURISTS Czech members of European Parliament have asked European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso to assist in returning three Czech tourists currently jailed on espionage charges in Zambia. The three tourists were arrested after being spotted taking photographs at the airport in October. MEP Jan Březina has also asked EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton to use "all available means" to release the tourists. The Czech embassy in Zimbabwe, which also represents the country in Zambia has worked with Foreign Minister Karel Schwarzenberg to try to free the tourists. Březina said he is not against using  "economic pressure" to convince Zambian authorities to let the three return home.

DEPARTURE Senior-ruling Civic Democrat (ODS) MP Michal Doktor announced Nov. 16 he is leaving the party over the appointment of Martin Kuba (also ODS) as the country's new Industry and Trade Minister. Doktor had been rumored to be one of Prime Minister Petr Nečas' top choices for the post, which was awarded to Kuba, many speculate, because of his power in the party's south Bohemian region. Doktor said he will continue to support the coalition government.

PRIDE Just two-thirds of Czech citizens say they are proud of their nationality, the lowest number since the STEM polling agency began conducting surveys on national pride in 1998. The number also represents a sharp fall from STEM's 2010 poll, which showed nearly 80 percent of Czechs were proud of their country. The poll also showed that about two-thirds also feel a "kinship with Europe."

BUSINESS

SHOPPING Prague was listed as the ninth best shopping city in Europe in the first-ever Global Shopper City index published by London-based Economist Intelligence Unite (EIU). The index listed 33 of Europe's major cities and ranked them by shopping attractions, availability of designer and high-end shops and other criteria. London ranked number one, followed by Madrid and Barcelona.

MORTGAGES Interest rates on mortgage loans dropped in October to their lowest level since 2005 with the average rate dropping to 3.77 percent, down 0.12 percent month-on-month, according to a Fincentrum Hypoindex report released Nov. 16. The previous low rate occurred in July 2005 when it plummeted to 3.62 percent. The number of signed mortgages also fell from 6,291 in September to 5,821 in October, according to the report.

MINISTER The country's energy strategy and export diversification will be the two chief priorities of new Industry and Trade Minister Martin Kuba, who was sworn in by the president Nov. 16. Kuba said he hopes to reduce the country's reliance on exports to European countries by focusing on other regions including Asia. Kuba will also play a major role in the completion of the expansion of the Temelín nuclear power plant.

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