Local Briefs
Dvořáková wins Charter 77 Foundation courage prize
The Charter 77 Foundation awarded academic Vladimíra Dvořáková with its annual František Kriegel Prize for civic courage May 17. Dvořáková heads the Acreditation Commission, which earlier this year recommended the Education Ministry withdraw accreditation of a scandal-plagued Plzeň law school. Then-Education Minister Josef Dobeš inexplicably ignored the recommendation sparking a conflict with Dvořáková.
The Charter 77 Foundation awarded academic Vladimíra Dvořáková with its annual František Kriegel Prize for civic courage May 17. Dvořáková heads the Acreditation Commission, which earlier this year recommended the Education Ministry withdraw accreditation of a scandal-plagued Plzeň law school. Then-Education Minister Josef Dobeš inexplicably ignored the recommendation sparking a conflict with Dvořáková.
Communist Party membership slides
Membership of the Communist Party (KSČM) is steadily declining while the average age of members is growing, ČTK reported. A document prepared for a party congress found the KSČM had just 56,763 members last year, a drop of more than 5,000 since 2010. Despite its shrinking membership, the KSČM is now the second-most popular party, according to some public opinion polls. Vojtěch Filip was recently re-elected as the party's chairman.
Membership of the Communist Party (KSČM) is steadily declining while the average age of members is growing, ČTK reported. A document prepared for a party congress found the KSČM had just 56,763 members last year, a drop of more than 5,000 since 2010. Despite its shrinking membership, the KSČM is now the second-most popular party, according to some public opinion polls. Vojtěch Filip was recently re-elected as the party's chairman.
Further cuts to defense 'impossible'
Further cuts to the defense budget would be impossible after the austerity measures of 2012-14, Defense Minister Alexandr Vondra (Civic Democrats, ODS) said May 21, during the NATO summit in Chicago. Vondra said military spending must be stabilized and increased in the foreseeable future, ČTK reported. NATO wants its members to spend at least 2 percent of GDP on defense, but last year the Czech figure was 1.15 percent.
Further cuts to the defense budget would be impossible after the austerity measures of 2012-14, Defense Minister Alexandr Vondra (Civic Democrats, ODS) said May 21, during the NATO summit in Chicago. Vondra said military spending must be stabilized and increased in the foreseeable future, ČTK reported. NATO wants its members to spend at least 2 percent of GDP on defense, but last year the Czech figure was 1.15 percent.
Bohemia derailment blamed on defect
A defect on a freight train is believed to have caused an overnight derailment in Liběchov, central Bohemia, May 21, with an estimated damage bill of 110 million Kč. The five-wagon train was transporting coal when it derailed at midnight, and knocked down five electrical posts along the track, demolishing a nearby car. "The train continued moving, derailed, for another 3.5 kilometers," Rail Inspection spokesman Martin Drápal told the Czech News Agency (ČTK).
A defect on a freight train is believed to have caused an overnight derailment in Liběchov, central Bohemia, May 21, with an estimated damage bill of 110 million Kč. The five-wagon train was transporting coal when it derailed at midnight, and knocked down five electrical posts along the track, demolishing a nearby car. "The train continued moving, derailed, for another 3.5 kilometers," Rail Inspection spokesman Martin Drápal told the Czech News Agency (ČTK).
Ex-PM's wife publishes book on brothel business
Petra Paroubková, an MP and the wife of former Social Democratic Prime Minister Jiří Paroubek, has published a book titled Brothel as Business, a guidebook for brothel operators by the Austrian author Alexander Gerhardinger, the daily Mladá fronta Dnes reported. Paroubková, who owns a publishing house, said she does not see any problem with publishing the book.
Petra Paroubková, an MP and the wife of former Social Democratic Prime Minister Jiří Paroubek, has published a book titled Brothel as Business, a guidebook for brothel operators by the Austrian author Alexander Gerhardinger, the daily Mladá fronta Dnes reported. Paroubková, who owns a publishing house, said she does not see any problem with publishing the book.
Number of obese Czechs balloons
The number of extremely obese Czechs weighing considerably more than 100 kilograms is rapidly growing, while more than 50 percent of the adult population is considered overweight, the daily Právo reported May 18. "Tens of thousands of people weigh more than 150 kilograms, and there is an increasing number of those weighing 220 and more kilograms," Štěpán Svačina, head of a clinic in Prague, is quoted as saying. Many obese people are discriminated against, living in fear that they will not be provided thorough medical care if they fall seriously ill, the paper reported.
The number of extremely obese Czechs weighing considerably more than 100 kilograms is rapidly growing, while more than 50 percent of the adult population is considered overweight, the daily Právo reported May 18. "Tens of thousands of people weigh more than 150 kilograms, and there is an increasing number of those weighing 220 and more kilograms," Štěpán Svačina, head of a clinic in Prague, is quoted as saying. Many obese people are discriminated against, living in fear that they will not be provided thorough medical care if they fall seriously ill, the paper reported.
Prague Pride 2011 receives recognition
The Prague Pride 2011 festival has been recognized for its contribution to the gay and transsexual community, winning the bePROUD prize, spokesman Zdeněk Sloboda told ČTK. The organizers said the Prague Pride festival, including the first rainbow pride march in the Czech capital, considerably enhanced the standing of sexual minorities in the country. The march drew criticism from conservatives, including President Václav Klaus' office deputy head Petr Hájek, who labeled homosexuals "deviant fellow citizens."
The Prague Pride 2011 festival has been recognized for its contribution to the gay and transsexual community, winning the bePROUD prize, spokesman Zdeněk Sloboda told ČTK. The organizers said the Prague Pride festival, including the first rainbow pride march in the Czech capital, considerably enhanced the standing of sexual minorities in the country. The march drew criticism from conservatives, including President Václav Klaus' office deputy head Petr Hájek, who labeled homosexuals "deviant fellow citizens."
Mountaineer dies during ascent
Mountaineer Milan Sedláček, 50, died during an ascent of the 8,516-meter-tall Lhotse in the Himalayas, the fourth-highest mountain in the world, Czech Television reported May 22. Sedláček was a member of an expedition headed by Leopold Sulovský, the first Czech mountaineer to ascend Mount Everest.
Mountaineer Milan Sedláček, 50, died during an ascent of the 8,516-meter-tall Lhotse in the Himalayas, the fourth-highest mountain in the world, Czech Television reported May 22. Sedláček was a member of an expedition headed by Leopold Sulovský, the first Czech mountaineer to ascend Mount Everest.
Klaus continues global warming denial
East European countries are corrupted by the European Union on global warming issues, President Václav Klaus said May 21 at a conference at the Heartland Institute, a group that seeks to deny manmade climate change. Apart from disapproval in the Czech Republic and Poland, few are willing to fight the EU's dominant doctrine, Klaus said, adding Germany appears confused over its decision to close nuclear power plants.
East European countries are corrupted by the European Union on global warming issues, President Václav Klaus said May 21 at a conference at the Heartland Institute, a group that seeks to deny manmade climate change. Apart from disapproval in the Czech Republic and Poland, few are willing to fight the EU's dominant doctrine, Klaus said, adding Germany appears confused over its decision to close nuclear power plants.
Czech Republic pushes Canada to lift visa requirement
The Czech Republic may complicate negotiations between Canada and the European Union on a free-trade pact if Canada does not lift its visa requirement for Czechs, Prime Minister Petr Nečas told Canadian PM Stephen Harper May 20. "We are strong advocates of trade liberalization and the creation of a free-trade zone with Canada, the United States, Japan, South Korea and other areas. Nevertheless, I considered it my duty to correctly inform the Canadian prime minister that the negotiations about the treaty can meet with a number of problems and difficulties," Nečas said.
The Czech Republic may complicate negotiations between Canada and the European Union on a free-trade pact if Canada does not lift its visa requirement for Czechs, Prime Minister Petr Nečas told Canadian PM Stephen Harper May 20. "We are strong advocates of trade liberalization and the creation of a free-trade zone with Canada, the United States, Japan, South Korea and other areas. Nevertheless, I considered it my duty to correctly inform the Canadian prime minister that the negotiations about the treaty can meet with a number of problems and difficulties," Nečas said.
Anniversary of Heydrich assassination ahead
May 27 marks the 70th anniversary of the assassination attempt on Nazi Deputy Reichsprotector Reinhard Heydrich in Prague. Czech paratroopers, trained in the United Kingdom, carried out the attack that eventually killed Heydrich a week later, June 4, 1942. After a submachine gun failed, one of the paratroopers threw a bomb into the passing car. The paratroopers were tracked down hiding in a church basement in central Prague and killed.
May 27 marks the 70th anniversary of the assassination attempt on Nazi Deputy Reichsprotector Reinhard Heydrich in Prague. Czech paratroopers, trained in the United Kingdom, carried out the attack that eventually killed Heydrich a week later, June 4, 1942. After a submachine gun failed, one of the paratroopers threw a bomb into the passing car. The paratroopers were tracked down hiding in a church basement in central Prague and killed.
8 °C, Prague, Czech Republic
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