Czech News
Ban on littering in Prague brings thousands in fines
Prague - As of July 1 you can be fined up to CZK 30,000 for spitting out a chewing gum, not lifting your dog´s exrecement or dropping a cigarette and other ways of littering.
09. 07. 2008
Domestic News
US and ČR sign missile defense treaty in Prague
Prague - Following a few postponements the US State Secretary Condoleezza Rice has finally arrived in Prague Tuesday morning.
08. 07. 2008
Domestic News
Rice to sign agreements and dine with politicians while in Prague
Prague - Both the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the police are making preparations for a visit by US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. The upcoming trip, which has long been awaiting final confirmation, was given the green light on Thursday.
04. 07. 2008
Domestic News
Direct presidential vote may get Klaus reelected
Praha - The coalition leaders agreed Wednesday to draft a bill on direct presidential voting this summer. It was the Green Party that first provoked the debate on the popular vote. They presented their version of the bill last week, which suggests a referendum on popular vote to be held.
03. 07. 2008
Domestic News
Mayors want city police measure speed again
Prague - MPs´ decision to forbid private companies and police officers to monitor car speeding surprised and annoyed many mayors. According to the new law, only the national police will be allowed to measure speed on the roads.
01. 07. 2008
Domestic News
Pardubice a success story in regional development
Prague - The last four years are believed to be the best period in the history of the Czech Republic in terms of development and thriving economy. Yet, some regions have managed to benefit more than others.
30. 06. 2008
Domestic News
General strike attended by 900,000 Czechs
Prague - Today saw the biggest strike since the times of the Velvet Revolution. Thousands of teachers, medics, postmen and transport and other kinds of workers staged a general strike against the economic and social reforms Civic Democrats´ government has been trying to implement.
24. 06. 2008
Domestic News
Prague plans to demolish Masarykovo nádraží
Prague - Masarykovo nádraží, a train station in downtown Prague, could vanish in several years. The Prague City Council is scheduled to discuss the issue within two weeks, Civic Democrat Councillor Martin Langmajer told Aktuálně.cz.
23. 06. 2008
Domestic News
Soviet invasion of 1968 to have its own web page
Prague - A comprehensive view of events in August 1968 is be presented on a new web page run by the Totalitarian Regime Study Institute.
23. 06. 2008
Domestic News
Czechs happiest with the president
Prague - President Václav Klaus has the stable support of the majority of the population. According to a recent public opinion survey carried out by the STEM research agency, 62 percent of Czechs are satisfied with the job the president is doing.
20. 06. 2008
Domestic News
Brussels defeated. Czech Republic will not become Europe’s dumping ground
Prague/Brussels - The Czech Republic will not become a dumping ground for half of Europe’s waste. Czech negotiators were successful in asserting the right of individual EU member countries to ban the import of foreign waste in a new European waste directive.
18. 06. 2008
Domestic News
Conservationists slam new skyscraper project in Pankrác
Prague - A new skyscraper may rise in Prague's Pankrác district. The Pankrác company plans to build an administrative building called Ledová věž (Ice Tower) here, not far from other skyscrapers.
16. 06. 2008
Domestic News
Building industry grew by 2 percent in April
Prague - Czech building industry experiences a year-to-year increase of 2 percent. Construction offices produced 10,362 building permits which means an increase by 16.2 percent against April 2007.
13. 06. 2008
Domestic News
Every Czech sorts 50 kilos of waste a year
Prague - Czechs sort an increasing amount of plastic, glass, paper and metal waste every year. In 2007, they set a new record, getting close to the 50-kilo-per-head level, according to the latest statistics.
10. 06. 2008
Domestic News
Mobile operators will store call data
Prague - Information about the calls people make using their mobile phones will not be a private matter anymore.
09. 06. 2008
Domestic News
If elections were in June, ČSSD would win
Prague - A poll conducted by Median between May 2 and June 1 showed voters preferences if parliamentary elections to the Chamber of Deputies were to take place now.
06. 06. 2008
Domestic News
Daring landlord opens non-smoking venue in Rakovník
Rakovník - Mr Somol did not wait for political decisions. He is a businessman, and he has decided to run the risk. Now he has a non-smoking pub in Rakovník, central Bohemia.
04. 06. 2008
Domestic News
Digital TV becomes a reality. Z1 news channels goes on air
Prague - On Sunday evening, a new television station took to the airwaves, kicking off the era of digital television in the Czech Republic. The Z1 commercial news channel is the first entrant to begin broadcasting using the new technology.
02. 06. 2008
Domestic News
As of June drivers will only need a Green Card
Prague - Czech drivers will no longer have to submit documentation of insurance when registering a vehicle or dealing with police. As of June 1, they will only need to have a so-called “Green Card”, which will also serve a proof of registration.
02. 06. 2008
Domestic News
Greens preparing a referendum on direct presidential vote
Prague - According to a new proposal to be tabled by the Green Party, both politicians and citizens would vote for the next president.
30. 05. 2008
Domestic News
Fifty-crown coin to be minted in Czech Republic
Jablonec n. N. - All Czech coins will now be minted in the Czech Republic. Fifteen years after the emergence of its own currency, the Czech mint at Jablonec will begin issuing the fifty-crown coin.
03. 07. 2008
Czech Business News
Czech billionaire fancies buying publisher Economia
Praha - The battle over the purchase of one of the biggest publishing houses in the country is not over yet. And it just got more interesting with the certified richest Czech joining the fray.
27. 06. 2008
Czech Business News
Oil fills coffers of Moravian villages
Prague - Money from oil mining is changing southern Moravian villages which are lucky enough to have the oil extracted on their territory.
26. 06. 2008
Czech Business News
To have a glass of Masaryk? Not in ČR
Brno - The name of the first president of Czechoslovakia - Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk - is so sacrosanct in the Czech Republic that Slovak vintner Alojz Masaryk will have to rebrand his wines.
19. 06. 2008
Czech Business News
Foreign trade is on the rise again
Prague - Mainly thanks to a greater number of work days, April was marked by an increase in Czech foreign trade. In comparison to last year, export in April grew by 12.6 percent while import grew only by 11.1 percent.
11. 06. 2008
Czech Business News
Teachers strike on Monday for higher salaries
Prague - No classes will be held on Monday in more than half of Czech schools. The union-called strike will be observed by 6,500 schools.
09. 06. 2008
Czech Business News
Prague places 49th as most important city of commerce
Praha - The city of Prague was ranked as the 49th important city in global economy in the latest survey conducted by the Mastercard company. The survey evaluated 75 cities worldwide taking into account a number of factors.
09. 06. 2008
Czech Business News
Adviser puts EUR 2.8bn price tag on Prague Airport
Prague - The cabinet may get EUR 2.4-2.8 billion (CZK 60.5-70.6 billion) if it sells its 100% stake in the Prague Airport directly to a new owner, a study by Credit Suisse, which has drafted a financial analysis on the privatisation for the cabinet, has shown.
03. 06. 2008
Czech Business News
The Czech Republic becoming European IT center
Prague - The Czech Republic is becoming a European software development giant. With the assistance of CzechInvest, 51 programming centers have been established in the country since 2000. Additionally, investors have pledged to employ more than 10,000 developers, the vast majority of whom are highly skilled expert with specialized education.
03. 06. 2008
Czech Business News
Want to stop smoking? Your insurance company will pay for it
Prague - While lawmakers continue to put off debate over anti-smoking laws, Czech health insurance companies are investing their money to get smokers to break the habit. Clients can receive one thousand Czech crowns from their insurance companies to butt out.
02. 06. 2008
Czech Business News
Government publishes list of terrorists, bans trade with them
Prague - The Czech government has made it illegal to trade with European terrorists. Additionally, it has published a list of organizations and individuals with whom it is illegal to do business.
30. 05. 2008
Czech Business News
Companies may earn billions on greenhouse gas savings
Prague - Czech coal-fired power stations, steelworks and chemical plants emitted less carbon dioxide than the limit set by Brussels for a third year in a row. This means they can earn billions of crowns again - by selling unused carbon trading permits to other companies in Europe, which have exceeded the limit.
27. 05. 2008
Czech Business News
New Prague 8 center is worth 1.7 billion
Prague - The winner of the tender for the expansive development project on Rohanský ostrov, a neighborhood in Prague's Karlín quarter, has been officially named.
21. 05. 2008
Czech Business News
Czech families experience greatest period of wealth since fall of communism
Prague - Not even growing inflation in November and December could spoil the news that real family income had increased at its greatest rate since 1989, and as such, even longer.
19. 05. 2008
Czech Business News
The Czech Republic increasingly competitive
Prague - According to the World Competitiveness Yearbook 2008, the Czech Republic has increased its competitiveness ranking by four places over last year’s result and now places 28th among the 55 countries evaluated. Among post-communist states, the Czech Republic is in second place.
15. 05. 2008
Czech Business News
Save on a new Škoda Superb. Thanks to a strong crown
Mladá Boleslav - Car buyers can expect to save 20,000 Czech crowns on a new Škoda Superb thanks to the steep appreciation of the Czech crown. A model equipped with a 1.4 liter, 92 kW gasoline engine is now priced at 599,000 crowns.
14. 05. 2008
Czech Business News
Japanese research experts gather in Prague
Prague - The Czech Republic is hosting the fourth annual Czech-Japan Days of Science and Technology. The main event of the occasion will be the presentation of concrete possibilities for cooperation between Czech and Japanese universities, research organizations and companies.
13. 05. 2008
Czech Business News
Czech Republic experiencing uranium fever
Brno - Plans are underway to explore uranium ore deposits in the mines of Dolní Rožínka. These mineral resources may lie 24 to 27 stories beneath the surface of the earth. The results of the survey will determine whether to continue mining uranium or not.
09. 05. 2008
Czech Business News
Unemployment down to record low in 11 years
Praha - The number of unemployed has decline down to 4.7 percent in a year-toyear comparison. It is a record low since 1997. The first quarter 2008 saw 93.4 thousand employed more than in the same period in 2007. In total, it was 4,958.3 thousand people.
02. 05. 2008
Czech Business News
Number of older economically active people grows in ČR
Prague - The number of economically active people aged over 55 is growing in the Czech Republic and while in 1993, around 408,000 people in that age category worked, the number nearly doubled by 2006, the Czech Statistical Office (ČSÚ) analysis shows.
16. 04. 2008
Czech Business News
Liberec Region to buy national landmark Ještěd
Liberec - Liberec Region authorities decided to buy the national landmark Ještěd, which is owned by telecommunication company Radiokomunikace at the moment.
09. 07. 2008
Czech Travel & Tourism News
A celebration of fine food, good times and great beer
Prague - The Czech Republic’s beer is a national phenomenon. It is a part of friendly get-togethers, has inspired chefs to prepare original recipes, and has found its way into literature and music. If you would like to discover what lies behind the magic of the golden beverage with the frothy white cap, come and visit this year’s beer festivities.
23. 06. 2008
Czech Travel & Tourism News
Ministry agrees to development in Pec
Brno - The Ministry of the Environment has definitively approved a further development project that will change the face of the Czech Republic’s highest mountains, the Krkonoše.
03. 06. 2008
Czech Travel & Tourism News
Prague cops set up special unit for tourists
Prague - The Prague municipal police have established a special team called "The Royal Mile" for the tourist season.
02. 06. 2008
Czech Travel & Tourism News
The living dead take over the streets of Prague
Prague - There was a blood-chilling atmosphere on the streets of Prague this weekend when some 650 zombies took over the center of the Czech capital. PHOTO GALLERY INSIDE
26. 05. 2008
Czech Travel & Tourism News
A record number of foreign tourists visited the Czech Republic this winter
Prague - In the first quarter of 2008, the Czech Republic hosted 1.3 million foreign tourists in hotels, pensions and other accommodation facilities throughout the country. That figure represents an 8.5-percent increase over the same period last year. The majority of tourists came from Germany, Great Britain and Russia. There was also 55-percent increase in the number of tourists coming from Spain compared to same period in 2007.
20. 05. 2008
Czech Travel & Tourism News
Littering fines to make Prague a cleaner city
Prague - Realizing that a thirty-year-old regulation about littering is hopelessly insufficient, the capital's authorities proposed a new set of paragraphs that would introduce harsher penalties for those who make Prague dirty.
14. 05. 2008
Czech Travel & Tourism News
ČD will hike fares, cut discounts from June
Prague - In mid-June, Czech Railways passengers can expect not only new timetables, but also higher fares for some types of tickets. Some discount fares will be abolished altogether. Spokesman Ondřej Kubala says the move is due to growing oil prices.
12. 05. 2008
Czech Travel & Tourism News
Agrotourism in ČR increasingly popular
Praha - According to the information provided by Czechtourism, a government-supported organization that promotes tourism in the country, and the Rural Tourism Association (Svaz venkovské turistiky) Czechs are increasingly interested in spending their holidays in rural areas.
09. 05. 2008
Czech Travel & Tourism News
Cheaper hotels on the Mediterranean less popular among Czechs
Prague - Interest in 2- and 3-star hotels on the Mediterranean has hit a low among Czechs, a fact that travel agency representatives have confirmed off the record. Conversely, enquiries for 4- and 5-star hotels are growing.
02. 05. 2008
Czech Travel & Tourism News
The exhibition begins on Saturday and will last through the end of April.
Prague - According to the wish made by the famous 14th century Czech King Charles IV., Czech crown jewels are to be displayed only on very special occasions. The exhibition begins on Saturday and will last through the end of April.
17. 04. 2008
Czech Travel & Tourism News
Ever changing Prague: Bold visions, radical proposals
Prague - The city of Prague may get a completely new shape in the near future. Right now all Prague municipalities are compiling their ideas and proposals how to develop the city. They will send these to Prague's city council that is to draw the urban development plan of Prague with the help of the proposals.
11. 04. 2008
Czech Travel & Tourism News
Ještěd to be nominated for UNESCO list in 2010
Liberec/Prague - A hilltop tower Ještěd that hosts a hotel and a television transmitter is another Czech landmark to be nominated for the inclusion in the famed UNESCO World Heritage list.
10. 04. 2008
Czech Travel & Tourism News
Paris Hilton falls when fleeing from journalists in Prague
Prague - U.S. celebrity Paris Hilton who arrived in Prague on Sunday fell to the ground and hurt her chin when she was flying from journalists.
31. 03. 2008
Czech Travel & Tourism News
The Prague Marathon Supports an Active Lifestyle
Prague - Although the Prague International Marathon (PIM) is the most important running event in the Czech Republic, it values a sporting spirit and the appetite to promote a healthy lifestyle more than performances on the edge of what is possible. During the marathon weekend (10-11 May), Prague expects 12,000 enthusiasts, who will put on their running shoes or roller skates and go running or skating in the streets. Tens of thousands of spectators will be encouraging them.
25. 03. 2008
Czech Travel & Tourism News
Prague Castle to display Czech coronation jewels in April
Prague - The original Czech coronation jewels will be displayed at the Old Royal Palace at Prague Castle, the presidential seat, on April 19-29.
21. 03. 2008
Czech Travel & Tourism News
The digitalization of Langweil’s model of Prague already completed
Prague - A 3-dimensional digital version of a one-of-a-kind paper model of Prague, which depicts the Czech capital in the 1830s, is currently being completed. The digital model will be shown to the public by the Museum of the capital city of Prague (Muzeum hl. města Prahy) in the next several months.
14. 03. 2008
Czech Travel & Tourism News
Czech experts to partake in US child disease research
Prague - Charles University became the first Czech institution to become a partner of the US National Institute of Health (NIH).
30. 06. 2008
Science, Technology and Discovery
Czech book of poems to make it to the universe
Prague - Eugene Cernan, the last man to set his foot on the moon surface and a man with Czech ancestors visited Prague last week. Together with his granddaughter he came to open the Nation Museum exhibition Human Traces: A Walk from Prehistory to the Moon.
24. 06. 2008
Science, Technology and Discovery
Czechs celebrate centenary of their own Nobel
Prague - He lived a life that would make a perfect Hollywood movie: it wasn´t short of unbelievably quick rises and destiny strikes, strong will and eventually also a fabulous happy ending. And yet, these days most people don´t know him at all. Although he could be rightly described as the Czech Alfred Nobel. His name was Josef Hlávka.
23. 06. 2008
Science, Technology and Discovery
Stars are born in fascinating colors
Prague - A jury of Czech astronomers has selected a photograph taken by Martin Myslivec of Hradec Králové as the winner of its monthly astronomical photograph competition. The photograph shows how stars are born.
05. 06. 2008
Science, Technology and Discovery
Brno University examines how to eat bugs
Brno - Czech health specialists start to be seriously interested in using insects in cuisine. It was confirmed for the Daily Aktuálně.cz by Marie Borkovcová from Mendel University of Agriculture and Forestry in Brno, who presented her research today at a public lecture.
15. 05. 2008
Science, Technology and Discovery
Will elephants be born in Czech Republic?
Ostrava/Belfast - On Monday after 11 A.M., two elephant females rolled out of Belfast Zoo, Northern Ireland. 41 year old Johti and her 11 year old daughter, Vishesh, arrive in Ostrava on Thursday.
11. 04. 2008
Science, Technology and Discovery
University boom: number of students doubles in 7 yrs
Prague - Czech society is getting more educated. In the past seven years, the number of graduates has doubled at Czech universities. While in 2000 there were more than 30 thousand graduates, seven years after there are 63 thousand young people leaving with academic degrees.
11. 04. 2008
Science, Technology and Discovery
First Czech woman reaches the North Pole
Prague - Miluše Netolická, 34, reached the North Pole on Wednesday night becoming the first Czech woman performing such a feat, Gabriela Nižnanská, from Central Group for which Netolická works, told ČTK on Wednesday.
10. 04. 2008
Science, Technology and Discovery
Charles University marks anniversary, awards honorary doctorates
Prague - Prague's Charles University scientific council awarded four honorary doctor's degrees at a special meeting marking the 660th anniversary of the university foundation on Monday.
08. 04. 2008
Science, Technology and Discovery
German Daimler, Plzeň university launch joint academy
Plzeň, West Bohemia - The German concern Daimler and its Mercedes-Benz car-maker today launched the MBtech Academy in Plzeň in support of the education, research and development in car industry.
28. 03. 2008
Science, Technology and Discovery
Czech scientists develop paint reducing harmful substances in air
Prague - Czech scientists have invented new paint, Detoxy Color, that lowers the concentration of harmful substances in the air, the Czech Academy of Sciences press department announced on Wednesday.
27. 03. 2008
Science, Technology and Discovery
Russia wants permanent observers at US radar base
Prague - In case the disputed US radar base is built on Czech soil in the end, Russia will not be satisfied with irregular inspections to the base. Moscow wants its own expert observers to be present at the base permanently.
07. 07. 2008
World News
ČEZ acquires Turkish energy distribution firm
Ankara - Czech energy giant ČEZ won yesterday a Turkish distribution company Sedas which the Turkish government was selling as part of the industry privatization process. Turkish privatization agency informed about the sale.
02. 07. 2008
World News
Summit intends to push ahead with Lisbon Treaty. Czechs are opposed
Brussels - German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Nicholas Sarkozy appear determined not to allow Europe any pause to think about the ratification of the Lisbon Treaty ahead of the upcoming EU Council summit and will be pushing for the speediest ratification possible.
19. 06. 2008
World News
Police alerted: Football rowdies will travel through ČR
Mikulov - Checkpoints at the border between the Czech Republic and Austria provide an unusual view. Instead of deserted customs houses that have become obsolete after the country's entry to the Schengen zone, there are Austrian police controls located at the three major checkpoints in Mikulov, Dolní Dvořiště and Hatě.
06. 06. 2008
World News
US visa to be replaced by electronic registration
Washington - Prague managed to bypass the EU as it signed a bilateral agreement with Washington on visa-free travel to the USA for Czech citizens.
05. 06. 2008
World News
Embassies for football fans to be organized at EURO 2008
Prague - Czech fans planning to travel to Austria and Switzerland for EURO 2008 can turn to so called “fan embassies” should they be in need of help during the championships.
03. 06. 2008
World News
Winton train to travel from Prague to London again
Prague - On September 1, 2009, exactly 70 years after World War II broke out, a special train commemorating the charity mission of British broker Nicholas Winton will set out for London from Prague.
28. 05. 2008
World News
First and main treaty on radar approved by government
Prague - The Czech government approved the main Czech-American agreement about the radar base. NATO-SOFA treaty is not prepared yet. The government wants to submit both treaties to the parliament at the same time.
23. 05. 2008
World News
The Czech government recognizes an independent Kosovo
Prague/Teplice - The Czech Republic has joined a list of countries that now recognize the independence of Kosovo. Government ministers made the decision during a cabinet meeting in Teplice.
21. 05. 2008
World News
Border checks in Germany and Austria despite Schengen
Prague - European Parliament Member Zuzana Roithová from the Christian Democratic Party (KDU-ČSL) protested against an increased number of controls of Czech travellers to Germany and Austria.
20. 05. 2008
World News
Austria renews border controls. The reason: Football
Prague - Austria is getting ready for the EURO 2008 European Football Championships by boosting precautions at its borders with neighboring countries. From June 2 to July 1, 2008 the country will be restoring border controls.
15. 05. 2008
World News
Czech Republic joins efforts to help Burma
Bangkok/Prague - The situation in Burma remains critical after this weekend’s tropical cyclone. As a result, the military junta that has ruled the country for almost half a century is accepting aid from the international community.
06. 05. 2008
World News
None of Czech top MPs to attend Olympics in Beijing
Prague - All the top political representatives of the Czech Republic confirmed that they would not attend the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games in China this summer. Czech president Václav Klaus and Prime Minister Mirek Topolánek (Civic Democrats) refused to go earlier.
17. 04. 2008
World News
Czech friends in USA to help renovate Wilson statue in Prague
Philadelphia - The American Friends of the Czech Republic (AFoCR) have started a fund raising campaign in support of the re-establishment of the monument of former American president Woodrow Wilson (1856-1924) in Prague, AFoCR chairman Peter Rafaeli has told ČTK.
16. 04. 2008
World News
Exhibition on Czech-French relations opens in Paris
Paris - The exhibition "France and Czechoslovakia 1914-1945, the Years of Hopes, Failures and Combat on Joint Fronts" was opened by Czech Senate chairman Přemysl Sobotka on Thursday.
11. 04. 2008
World News
Schools in Czech-German-Polish Nisa Euroregion cooperate
Radvanec, North Bohemia - A network of 12 schools from the Czech Republic, Poland and Germany has been established in the Nisa Euroregion to cooperate in international projects and workshops, project coordinator Petra Sochova told CTK on Tuesday.
09. 04. 2008
World News
Czechs to send five million crowns to help Sudanese refugees
Prague - The Czech Republic will send 5 million crowns to help refugees in the Darfur region, western Sudan, the Foreign Ministry has said on its website.
04. 04. 2008
World News
Czech, USA agree on main treaty on U.S. radar on Czech soil
Bucharest - The Czech Republic has agreed with the United States on the main treaty on the possible stationing of a U.S. anti-missile radar on Czech soil, Czech Foreign Minister Karel Schwarzenberg said after a meeting with his U.S. counterpart Condoleezza Rice within the NATO summit on Thursday.
03. 04. 2008
World News
Klaus hopes NATO partners will support U.S. radar on Czech soil
Bucharest - Czech President Vaclav Klaus hopes that other NATO countries will support the plan to station a U.S. radar base in the Czech Republic, according to Klaus's address prepared for the dinner of heads of state that opens the NATO summit in Bucharest on Wednesday night.
02. 04. 2008
World News
Historical plane with two Czechs aboard will set off for North Pole
Prague - A legendary historical Czechoslovak-made plane L-200 Morava with two Czech pilots aboard will head for the North Pole, the expedition's spokesman Jiří Machovec told ČTK. PHOTO INSIDE
31. 03. 2008
World News
ID pierced by bullet a reminder of 1968 invasion
Prague/Liberec - On 21 August 1968, Jindřich Kuliš happened to be on a square in the town of Liberec, taking pictures of the Soviet troops that just entered the city. Soon after he ran out of film and headed across the square to buy a new one. As he was crossing the street, he got shot.
08. 07. 2008
Culture News
De Niro to help kick off Karlovy Vary festival
Prague - The thousand new seats placed in the reconstructed large hall at the Hotel Thermal are ready to be put to use during Friday’s grand opening of the 43rd annual Karlovy Vary International Film Festival.
04. 07. 2008
Culture News
Langhans Gallery shows photography that is not afraid
Prague - "Adventure without risk is Disneyland," says a piece of graffiti on a photograph taken by Nontsikelelo Veleko, which accurately summarizes the situation in South Africa ten years after the end of apartheid.
30. 06. 2008
Culture News
Rolling out the red carpet for Narnia
Prague - Even though it may have been the second installment of the Narnia franchise, Tuesday’s red-carpet premier, which saw the attendance of the film’s stars, director and producer, was a big event. While many foreign productions are made in the Czech Republic, The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian is unique in that it cost a quarter of a billion dollars to produce.
18. 06. 2008
Culture News
Kaplický’s library shelved until 2010
Prague - A decision concerning Jan Kaplický’s design of a new building for the National Library will have to wait, according to the library’s director Vlastimil Ježek and Culture Minister Václav Jehlička.
30. 05. 2008
Culture News
Ruggedly handsome Nick Nolte to attend Karlovy Vary festival
Prague - The shape of this year’s Karlovy Vary film festival is beginning to take on some sharp contours. It was recently confirmed that one of the actors slated to attend the international festival will be none other than Nick Nolte.
16. 05. 2008
Culture News
Kylie Minogue puts on a laser show in Prague
Prague - Kylie Minogue is said to put on one of the best concerts on the planet. Last night the 40-year-old Australian singer did just that in Prague.
13. 05. 2008
Culture News
Kylie Minogue brings her disco hits to the Czech Republic
Prague - Pop singer Kylie Minogue will have her first-ever performance in Prague on Monday. Her long-time hit Locomotion will be brought to the Czech capital in fourteen trucks with a wardrobe full of costumes.
12. 05. 2008
Culture News
From the Castle to the second hand shop. The Leica Gallery has a new address.
Prague - After an almost four-year pause without permanent facilities, Prague’s Leica Gallery is moving into a new home. On Wednesday the gallery renewed operations on Školská street with the opening of Sarah Moon’s exhibition Circus.
09. 05. 2008
Culture News
Anifest kicks off Wednesday in Třeboň
Prague - Anifest, the annual international festival of animation, gets underway on Wednesday in Třeboň. This year’s event will see 633 films screened over six days. The Czech Republic will be represented in the competition by several student films, including Lukáš Glaser’s film Naus. Glaser was one of the few Czechs on the official program at this year’s Cannes film festival. Martin Duda’s film Jsem větší a lepší (I am bigger and better) will also be competing for a student Oscar.
06. 05. 2008
Culture News
Elite Model Look world final to be held in Prague next week
Prague - The 24th Elite Model Look world final will take place in Prague on April 21, Sasa Jany, director of the Czech-Slovak Elite Model branch, told CTK today.
15. 04. 2008
Culture News
Historical thriller Bathory to premiere at Czech film festival
Prague - Bathory, a long-awaited historical thriller by Slovak film maker Juraj Jakubisko, will have world premiere at the 43rd Karlovy Vary international film festival due on July 4-12, representatives of the organising company Film Servis Karlovy Vary told journalists today.
15. 04. 2008
Culture News
Prague book fair to focus on literature in Spanish language
Prague - The 14th Bookworld international book fair to be held at the Prague Vystaviste exhibition grounds on April 24-27 will focus on literature of Spanish-writing authors, its organisers told reporters Thursday.
10. 04. 2008
Culture News
Milada Horáková to be retried at the National Theater
Prague - The story of Czech politician Milada Horáková and the show trial the led to her execution in 1950 has been recreated for the stage a second time. On Wednesday the opera “Zítra se bude...” premiered at the Kolowrat chamber.
09. 04. 2008
Culture News
Arnost Lustig to receive Czech Franz Kafka Prize
Prague - Czech-born writer Arnost Lustig will receive the 2008 annual Franz Kafka Prize given by Franz Kafka Society, organiser Daniela Uherkova told CTK on Tuesday.Lustig was selected by an international jury from 15 proposed writers with global fame.
09. 04. 2008
Culture News
A moment of photographic poetry at the Louvre
Prague - The secrets of the female body as well as original color photographs made using a kaleidoscope will be on exhibit at the Galerie Fotografie Louvre. This exhibition, which presents the works of Gabina Fárová from 1978 to 2002, will run until the beginning of June.
08. 04. 2008
Culture News
Train exhibition on WW2 Jewish transports opens in Czech town
Plzeň, West Bohemia - A Slovak railway carriage with a touring exhibition on deportations of Jews to concentration camps arrived in Plzeň on Monday, Stanislav Mičev, head of the organising Slovak National Uprising (SNP) Museum, told ČTK at the exhibition's opening.
07. 04. 2008
Culture News
Estonian film Magnus wins Czech Febiofest film festival
Prague - The film Magnus by Estonian film director Kadri Kousaar will win the main prize of the Czech film festival Febiofest 2008 this evening, Febiofest webpage said on Friday.
04. 04. 2008
Culture News
Reconstructed Schwarzenberg Palace to house Czech Baroque art
Prague - The reconstructed Renaissance Schwarzenberg Palace that will be opened to the public after a five-year reconstruction on Friday, March 28 will house the National Gallery (NG) collections of Czech Baroque art, NG representatives told reporters on Thursday.
27. 03. 2008
Culture News
Czech animated film awarded at U.S. festival
Tiburon, USA - The Czech animated film One Night in One City directed by Jan Balej has won the Golden Reel Award for the best animation at the International Film Festival in Tiburon, California, the organisers announced on the festival website on Sunday.
25. 03. 2008
Culture News
Only Czech doubles teams remain in Wimbledon
London - If only Cheng Tie hadn’t received a wild card invitation to Wimbledon this year, Czech tennis player Nicole Vaidišová could have battle on in the third Grand Slam tournament of the season. The words “if only” however, don’t apply to sports. The Chinese player beat the 19-year-old Czech 6-2, 5-7, 6-1 in the quarterfinals to make a surprising appearance in the semis. The only hope for Czech tennis fans now lies in the doubles teams of Lukáš Dlouhý and his Indian partner Leandr Paes and the mixed pair of Pavel Vízner and Květa Peschkeová.
03. 07. 2008
Czech Sport News
Jágr tempted by CZK 530 M to play in Russia
New York - Avangard Omsk has reportedly offered Jaromír Jágr a three-year contract worth an astonishing amount of money. Should the Czech hockey star return to play in Russia, he would earn 35 million US dollars after taxes.
27. 06. 2008
Czech Sport News
German coach a candidate for Czech national team job
Berlin - Czechs should come to terms with the possibility of having a foreign coach training the Czech national football team. German coach Klaus Toppmöller has recently admitted he was contacted by the Czech team management about the coaching position.
25. 06. 2008
Czech Sport News
Czech cyclist wins ProTour Series
Val de Sole, Bern - His name is Roman. Roman Kreuziger. Just like a Roman gladiator, this Czech Liquigas rider has been undefeatable in the Tour De Suisse. Instead of a sword, his weapon is a bicycle. The 22-year-old former junior world champion has beaten the world’s best to earn his first significant victory as a pro. In addition to the Swiss road race, the 19th World Championship of mountain biking took place at the Italian mountain resort of Val di Sole. The Czech squad at the event was able to collect two medals thanks to excellent performances by Jan Horáková and Romana Labounková.
23. 06. 2008
Czech Sport News
Olympic hopefuls maintain medal form
Prague, Poznan - The Czech Republic is a superpower on the water. Last weekend, the country’s prowess was demonstrated by kayakers at the World Cup event at Prague’s Troja and by rowers competing in Poznan, Poland. At their home venue, the Czech national team members won three medals in four categories. Rowers Ondřej Synek and Miroslava Knapková both finished in second place in the final regatta.
23. 06. 2008
Czech Sport News
A week of athletics ends with combined events in Kladno
Kladno - The last seven days have seen the Czech Republic host three world-format athletic meets. Two world records and two Czech records were broken at last Thursday’s Golden Spike competition in Ostrava. On Monday, Petr Svoboda set a new Czech record in the 100 m hurdles while javelin thrower Barbora Špotáková had a throw of 68.81 meters during the Josef Odložil Memorial event. The week was capped off with a combined event competition in Kladno.
19. 06. 2008
Czech Sport News
Dino goes East. Koller to leave Germany for Russia
Prague - It didn´t take long for Jan Koller, the Czech national team´s all-time top scoring player, to find a new employer after his 1.FC Nuremberg got relegated from German Bundesliga this year.
18. 06. 2008
Czech Sport News
After a shocker, Czechs are out of Euro 2008
Geneva/Prague - Czech national team lost what looked like a shoo-in in their last game at the Euro 2008 football championship against Turkey on Sunday and are out of the tournament.
16. 06. 2008
Czech Sport News
Fate smiles on Czech football
Basil - Petr Čech, Karel Brückner, Václav Svěrkoš. Three names that will remain closely tied to the Czech national football team’s first victory at EURO 2008. One goal decided the outcome of opening game of the European Championship. That lone goal, scored by Czech forward Václav Svěrkoš, came on 71 minutes during the Czech Republic’s opening match against co-hosts Switzerland.
07. 06. 2008
Czech Sport News
Prague loses bid to host 2016 Olympics
Athens - The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has taken the Czech capital off a shortlist of candidate cities for the 2016 Olympic Summer Games. Prague, Baku and Doha have all been dropped from the competition. The results of the vote were widely anticipated. Chicago, Tokyo, Rio de Janeiro and Madrid are all on the shortlist of candidate cities.
04. 06. 2008
Czech Sport News
Czech tennis players out of French Open
Paris - While Petra Kvitová was the youngest Czech player competing in the French Open, she managed to last the longest in the tournament. Of the ten Czech players entered in the singles competition, four achieved a personal best on the clay courts of Roland Garros while three advanced to the eighth finals. Petra Kvitová and Radek Štěpánek came closest to advancing to the quarter finals.
03. 06. 2008
Czech Sport News
Czech rowers again reach medal podium
Lucern - If you are planning on watching the Olympic Games this August and are interested to know which Czech athletes have the best chance of winning a medal, then turn your attention to rowing. The Czech Republic can boast some serious contenders in Ondřej Synek and Miroslava Knapková, both of whom confirmed their medal intentions at the second World Cup event in Switzerland on Sunday.
01. 06. 2008
Czech Sport News
Not even a cracked swimming pool could stop Svoboda
Budapest - The Czech Republic took second place at the World Championships in modern pentathlon on Sunday. Though the result isn’t necessarily a surprise, the name of the silver-medal winner may cause some slight astonishment as well as some considerable admiration. David Svoboda rose to the occasion in the absence of injured compatriot and Athens bronze-medalist Libor Capalini. Thanks to his performance in the Hungarian capital, Svoboda can take satisfaction in knowing that he now ranks among the international elite.
01. 06. 2008
Czech Sport News
Czech national team dispatches Lithuania
Prague - Slavia Prague’s brand new stadium hosted its third major football match on Tuesday. The first game held at the recently opened Eden stadium was a historic match between the venerable Prague club and Oxford. Slavia then went on to host Jablonec at home in the Czech league final. Earlier this week, the Czech national team hosted a friendly match against Lithuania ahead of next month’s European Championships. The Czechs won the match 2-0.
28. 05. 2008
Czech Sport News
EURO 2008 without Pavel Nedvěd
Prague - Karel Brückner, the manager of the Czech national football team, dispelled any lingering rumors on Thursday concerning his selection ahead of the EURO 2008. Pavel Nedvěd’s name was not among those in the line up. Speculation that the former Czech captain would again put on a national team uniform now be laid to rest.
14. 05. 2008
Czech Sport News
Czechs end World Championship campaign in quarterfinals
Québec - It was all over for the Czechs at 63:15 of their World Championship quarter-final match against Sweden. The Czech Republic was beaten by their northern opponents 2-3 in overtime. The Czech national team, which is now out of the tournament’s medal round, will now head home.
14. 05. 2008
Czech Sport News
Disappointing results for Czech hockey team
Québec - After the first four games of the World Ice Hockey Championships in Canada, the Czech national team appeared to be well positioned for a gold medal. Their last two games of group play may now have fans second guessing the team’s chances. The Czechs eked out a narrow win over Belarus before losing to Sweden ahead of the crucial quarter finals.
12. 05. 2008
Czech Sport News
Prague hosts marathon runners and beach volleyballers
Prague - The Czech capital was the venue for two notable sporting events recently. Since the middle of last week, the Štvanice tennis arena was transformed into a beach volleyball center as Prague hosted its first-ever World Tour Beach Volleyball tournament. Then on Sunday, the city’s historical center became the backdrop for the Prague International Marathon.
11. 05. 2008
Czech Sport News
Slavia opens a new stadium
Prague- Fans of the famous red-and-white club have been patient. After spending eight years in exile in Strahov, the SK Slavia Praha football club recently opened the doors to its newly constructed Eden stadium. Karel Jarolím and his team however, will still have to play the remainder of the season at the Evžen Rošický stadium. The new football arena has capacity for 21,000 fans.
08. 05. 2008
Czech Sport News
Zvonarevova victorious at Prague Open
Prague - Russia’s Vera Zvonarevova claimed victory in the Czech Republic’s biggest tennis tournament after beating Viktoria Azarenkova of Belarus 7-6, 6-2 in the final of the ECM Prague Open. Czech competitors also did well at the Czech WTA event, with three women making it into the top eight. Klára Zakopalová had her third career semi-final appearance. Jan Hernych was the winner of the men’s final.
05. 05. 2008
Czech Sport News
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THE OLDEST GLASS WORKS
The oldest running glass works in Europe is located in Chřibská near Děčín. It has been in operation since 1414.