Local Briefs
Lovosice mayor defends subordinates against calls of racism
A mayor in Lovosice, north Bohemia, defended her subordinates against allegations of racism after an internal e-mail featuring dead bodies and an anti-Roma comment was leaked to local media, Právo reported Feb. 7. Town Hall officials were reported Jan. 31 for circulating an e-mail depicting five burned bodies with the caption, "What happened when Gypsies tried to steal an electric cable."
A mayor in Lovosice, north Bohemia, defended her subordinates against allegations of racism after an internal e-mail featuring dead bodies and an anti-Roma comment was leaked to local media, Právo reported Feb. 7. Town Hall officials were reported Jan. 31 for circulating an e-mail depicting five burned bodies with the caption, "What happened when Gypsies tried to steal an electric cable."
Ukrainian workers who discovered silver treasure to receive reward
Three Ukrainian workers who discovered a half-ton of silver treasure while excavating the Smíchov train station during reconstruction in 2008 will each receive a 200,000 Kč reward from Prague City Hall, the daily Právo reported Feb. 7. The treasure is now overseen by the City of Prague Museum.
Three Ukrainian workers who discovered a half-ton of silver treasure while excavating the Smíchov train station during reconstruction in 2008 will each receive a 200,000 Kč reward from Prague City Hall, the daily Právo reported Feb. 7. The treasure is now overseen by the City of Prague Museum.
Czech Hot Line received more than 1,200 tip-offs
The Czech Hot Line, a public hotline focusing on Internet safety, received more than 1,200 messages on illegal and dubious Web pages in 2011, including 89 cases of child pornography, ČTK reported Feb. 7. Lawyers passed 60 cases on to the police, hotline administrators said, adding that after Hot Line's intervention, 54 Web pages were withdrawn from the Internet.
The Czech Hot Line, a public hotline focusing on Internet safety, received more than 1,200 messages on illegal and dubious Web pages in 2011, including 89 cases of child pornography, ČTK reported Feb. 7. Lawyers passed 60 cases on to the police, hotline administrators said, adding that after Hot Line's intervention, 54 Web pages were withdrawn from the Internet.
Olomouc court sentences man for brutal murder
The High Court in Olomouc sentenced a local man to 25-year imprisonment for brutally murdering a 19-year-old woman in December, ČTK reported. The man, Lukáš Kopecký, strangled and stabbed his sex partner, partially decapitating her, after she threatened to make their relationship public. Afterward, Kopecký tried to cover his traces and also stole a computer that belonged to the girl's boyfriend and sold it in a pawnshop.
The High Court in Olomouc sentenced a local man to 25-year imprisonment for brutally murdering a 19-year-old woman in December, ČTK reported. The man, Lukáš Kopecký, strangled and stabbed his sex partner, partially decapitating her, after she threatened to make their relationship public. Afterward, Kopecký tried to cover his traces and also stole a computer that belonged to the girl's boyfriend and sold it in a pawnshop.
Šluknov politicians met with gov't over strife
Local politicians from Šluknov, a low-income region in north Bohemia that is often the site of ethnic tension, met with the government Agency for Social Inclusion Feb. 2, ČTK reported. Mayors from the area previously criticized the 25 million Kč agency for its ineffectiveness in helping resolve the region's issues with the integration of migrant Roma groups.
Local politicians from Šluknov, a low-income region in north Bohemia that is often the site of ethnic tension, met with the government Agency for Social Inclusion Feb. 2, ČTK reported. Mayors from the area previously criticized the 25 million Kč agency for its ineffectiveness in helping resolve the region's issues with the integration of migrant Roma groups.
Prague implements emergency measures to protect homeless in cold snap
Prague centers are implementing emergency measures to protect the city's homeless from extremely cold temperatures, the Czech News Agency (ČTK) reported. Day homeless centers will remain open at night, and the city's floating shelter on the boat Hermes will take in clients even during daytime hours. City Hall also erected an inflatable tent with some 50 additional beds on Rohanský Island Feb. 1. The news came after a homeless woman froze to death in Prague-Veleslavín on the night of Jan. 31.
Prague centers are implementing emergency measures to protect the city's homeless from extremely cold temperatures, the Czech News Agency (ČTK) reported. Day homeless centers will remain open at night, and the city's floating shelter on the boat Hermes will take in clients even during daytime hours. City Hall also erected an inflatable tent with some 50 additional beds on Rohanský Island Feb. 1. The news came after a homeless woman froze to death in Prague-Veleslavín on the night of Jan. 31.
Communist chairman 'didn't break law' by sending North Korea condolences
Police say Communist Party (KSČM) Chairman Vojtěch Filip did not break the law when he sent his condolences to North Korea following the December death of leader Kim Jong-Il, daily Lidové noviny reported Feb. 6. According to media reports, Filip wrote an official letter in which he said the KSČM firmly believed "the Korean Labor Party will continue to lead its courageous fight for the defense of socialism."
Police say Communist Party (KSČM) Chairman Vojtěch Filip did not break the law when he sent his condolences to North Korea following the December death of leader Kim Jong-Il, daily Lidové noviny reported Feb. 6. According to media reports, Filip wrote an official letter in which he said the KSČM firmly believed "the Korean Labor Party will continue to lead its courageous fight for the defense of socialism."
Chamber of Deputies passes transparency bill
The lower house passed a bill Jan. 31 aimed at creating greater transparency in the issuance of state tenders, the Czech News Agency (ČTK) reported. MPs overrode a Senate revision that would have required tender recipients to disclose their corporate structure, including the identity of anonymous shareholders and other undeclared stakeholders.
The lower house passed a bill Jan. 31 aimed at creating greater transparency in the issuance of state tenders, the Czech News Agency (ČTK) reported. MPs overrode a Senate revision that would have required tender recipients to disclose their corporate structure, including the identity of anonymous shareholders and other undeclared stakeholders.
Wax heart commemorating Havel goes on display Feb. 10
A 2-meter heart-shaped statue commemorating the late President Václav Havel will be placed in the plaza beside the National Theater Feb. 10, ČTK reported. The statue, conceived by artists Roman Švejda and Lukáš Gavlovský, grew out of a community effort to mold the wax of thousands of candles left behind from the public mourning of Havel's December death into a meaningful public memorial.
A 2-meter heart-shaped statue commemorating the late President Václav Havel will be placed in the plaza beside the National Theater Feb. 10, ČTK reported. The statue, conceived by artists Roman Švejda and Lukáš Gavlovský, grew out of a community effort to mold the wax of thousands of candles left behind from the public mourning of Havel's December death into a meaningful public memorial.
Brno unversity students protest tuition plans
Several hundred students from six Brno universities demonstrated Feb. 1 against controversial changes to the tertiary education system proposed by Education Minister Josef Dobeš, the daily Právo reported. Students fear the reform will lead to greater political control over university leadership and assets, and oppose plans to introduce a tuition fee of up to 10,000 Kč per semester at public schools.
Several hundred students from six Brno universities demonstrated Feb. 1 against controversial changes to the tertiary education system proposed by Education Minister Josef Dobeš, the daily Právo reported. Students fear the reform will lead to greater political control over university leadership and assets, and oppose plans to introduce a tuition fee of up to 10,000 Kč per semester at public schools.
Protesters gather at Syrian Embassy
Around 30 demonstrators gathered in front of the Syrian Embassy in Prague Feb. 5 in a worldwide protest against the government of Bashar al-Assad, accused of committing human rights violations against the country's opposition, the Czech News Agency (ČTK) reported. While the Czech protest passed relatively calmly, elsewhere in the world embassy buildings were destroyed as protesters called for regime change.
Around 30 demonstrators gathered in front of the Syrian Embassy in Prague Feb. 5 in a worldwide protest against the government of Bashar al-Assad, accused of committing human rights violations against the country's opposition, the Czech News Agency (ČTK) reported. While the Czech protest passed relatively calmly, elsewhere in the world embassy buildings were destroyed as protesters called for regime change.
Nečas: EU must become federal entity
A joint monetary policy will only work if the European Union becomes a truly federal entity, Prime Minister Petr Nečas wrote in a Feb. 2 editorial for daily Lidové noviny, explaining his reasons for refusing to sign on to an EU fiscal responsibility pact agreed on by 25 out of 27 member states in Brussels Jan. 30. Federalization appears to be the only way forward, in Nečas' opinion, since no one could truly wish for the EU to break up. "By accepting the fiscal treaty, we would agree not only to the eurozone's eventual move toward fiscal federalization, but also to the fact that we ourselves want to take part in this project," he wrote.
A joint monetary policy will only work if the European Union becomes a truly federal entity, Prime Minister Petr Nečas wrote in a Feb. 2 editorial for daily Lidové noviny, explaining his reasons for refusing to sign on to an EU fiscal responsibility pact agreed on by 25 out of 27 member states in Brussels Jan. 30. Federalization appears to be the only way forward, in Nečas' opinion, since no one could truly wish for the EU to break up. "By accepting the fiscal treaty, we would agree not only to the eurozone's eventual move toward fiscal federalization, but also to the fact that we ourselves want to take part in this project," he wrote.
-18 °C, Prague, Czech Republic
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