Monday News Briefing

NEWS

BIG BROTHER Prague Transport (DPP) is to introduce face-recognition security cameras that will record the movements of every single passenger, daily Právo reported. "Our goal is to introduce software to identify a face, so that an individual's identity can be recognized subsequently. ? Every individual will have a unique code that can be later followed to show what route the person took, when he/she entered [the metro], whom he/she talked to," Jindřich Springl of contractor Saab Czech is quoted as saying regarding the partially classified plans, which are due to be completed within four years. The Office for Personal Data Protection (ÚOOÚ) told the paper the DPP was showing open contempt for the basic human right of privacy.

DOCTORS Doctors have urged the health minister to scrap plans to raise the fee for visiting a specialist without a doctor's recommendation from 30 Kč to 200 Kč, the Czech News Agency (ČTK) reported. The Doctors for Reform association says it believes the change will not actually lead to a drop in specialist visits and is instead urging "absolute gate-keeping," in place in other countries, where a specialist appointment is not possible without a GP's recommendation.

DEATH Sculptor and prize-winning ceramist Pravoslav Rada has died at the age of 87, ČTK reported. Winner of a gold medal for his ceramics at the 1958 world expo in Brussels, Rada went on to write several books about the craft that have been translated into six languages. His death over the weekend came just days before a retrospective exhibition of his work at Prague's Museum of Arts, Architecture and Design had been due to close.

BUSINESS

UNIPETROL Downstream oil group Unipetrol has announced it expects stronger first-quarter operating profits compared with the same period last year. The company said in a statement April 21 that higher oil prices accounted for the increased profits.  

DIVIDEND Shareholders of Komerční banka approved a 270 Kc dividend per share at their annual meeting April 22, Reuters reported. The increased dividend, up from 170 Kč last year, comes from 2010 profits.  

OLYMPICS The government has signed a deal with the Business Design Center in Islington to be the country's local base during the 2012 Olympic games. The space will be used for political, economic, cultural and business presentations and events to promote Czech regions and cities.

WEATHER

Prague, Czech Republic April 25. Thunderstorms. High: 9 C. Low: 4 C.