POST - Deputy Prime Minister for the Economy Martin Jahn, who announced in October his intention to leave the Cabinet at the end of the year, will become a board member and personnel manager at Škoda Auto, Hospodářské noviny reported Dec. 12, citing anonymous sources. There is speculation that he'd received offers from PricewaterhouseCoopers, Deloitte and Czech Airlines.

GROWTH - Industrial production grew 6.3 percent in October, falling from 7.1 percent the previous month, the Czech Statistical Office reported Dec. 12. Automotive manufacturers made the largest contribution to the growth.

MEETING - The Czech Airlines supervisory board will question President Jaroslav Tvrdík about the company's performance, business policy and marketing at a Dec. 14 meeting, Hospodářské noviny reported Dec. 12. Some board members have said Tvrdík's future as president of the company could come up at the meeting.

SURVEY - Prague is the wealthiest capital city of the 10 new European Union member states, according to the Urban Audit, a study in which the European Commission evaluates quality of life in 258 cities throughout the EU. Prague ranked fifth in number of museums and seventh for theaters.

INVESTMENT - Chinese interests would like to invest in television tube producer TCT Rožnov pod Radhoštěm, located in north Moravia. The investors would like to hire 800 employees in a single year, government deputy Josef Smykal (ČSSD) told the Czech News Agency Dec. 11. A Chinese delegation led by Labor and Social Security Minister Tian Chengping recently discussed the investment with TCT representatives.

GDP - Gross domestic product growth was 4.9 percent in the third quarter, down from 5.1 percent in the second. The 5 percent growth is reportedly three times faster than the EU average. Mirek Topolánek, chairman of the senior opposition Civic Democratic Party, said the economy is being driven by a few large exporters, which doesn't have much of an impact on the overall living standard.

TIRES - Japanese tire maker Bridgestone plans to open a new European distribution center in west Bohemia in July, according to reports. The center would have a staff of 85 people and distribute around 750,000 tires a year.

Hospitals - Prime Minister Jiří Paroubek recently said the senior opposition Civic Democrats (ODS) are spreading nonsense by saying the Social Democrats are planning to nationalize hospitals. Paroubek said the ODS sees communism everywhere.

Support - The Farming and Forestry Support and Guarantee Fund (PGRLF) wants to use around 700 million Kč to support farmers next years, Director Petr Buchal said Dec. 13. For the first time since 2000, when the PGRLF separated from the Agriculture Ministry, the agency will have to use its own money to support farmers as it no longer receives state subsidies.