Related articles
SpecialLiberating Ostrava: The bloodiest WWII battle on Czech soil
Some 400 Czech volunteers enlisted in the German, Soviet and Czechoslovak
armies on Saturday ahead of the battle for control of the Mosnov airfield.
There were no reported causalities, or even wounded, thankfully, as this
was merely a re-enactment of the bloodiest battle to take place on Czech
soil during World War II: the liberation of Ostrava from Nazi German
control.
More
Current Affairs'Stand-off' continues over Prague Jewish Community head posting
It has been a divisive year for Prague's Jewish community. In April, a new
leadership was elected on their promise to more handle community affairs
in a more "transparent and democratic" way and reach out to
non-Orthodox members. Two months later, Prague's chief rabbi, Karol Sidon,
was forced to step down from that post. Last week, Tomas Jelinek, the
Prague Jewish Community chairman who pushed for Rabbi Sidon to go,
barricaded himself in his office, refusing to give up the post he was
himself ousted from in November. More
Business NewsBusiness briefs
Cabinet agrees compromise approach on Cesky Telecom sale; Government agrees
to reduce public spending and approves plan to help young Czechs buy their
own homes; OECD urges faster pension and health reforms; average monthly
wage up 7 pct in Q3.
More
Current AffairsOstrava celebrates rebirth of national monument
On the night of April 2, 2002, one of the oldest wooden churches in the
world caught fire due to an electrical fault. Flames shot 25 metres high
and all attempts at saving the building failed. St. Catherine's Church,
located in the northern Moravian city Ostrava, was one of the most
important monuments in the region and the tragic fire came as a shock to
residents. Now, a little over two years later, the church stands once
again, looking just as it did before. More
Current AffairsPrague Jewish community divided over the dismissal of rabbi Sidon
Prague's rabbi Karol Sidon was recently dismissed from his position by the
board of the Prague Jewish community. The official statement says that he
failed to perform his duties satisfactorily. However, there is speculation
that behind his dismissal there could also be a dispute between the
orthodox and non-orthodox groups in the city's 1600 member strong Jewish
community.
More
Press ReviewPress Review
All of today's papers unanimously lead with yesterday's vote of the lower house approving a hike in the value-added tax from five to twenty-two
percent as of January next year. MLADA FRONTA DNES reports that this move
will increase monthly expenses for every Czech family by several hundred
crowns. The rise in VAT will increase the prices of certain services, such
as using both mobiles phones and land lines, or the services of lawyers,
tax consultants and real-estate agencies.
More
Current AffairsOstrava braced for huge demonstration as economic decline continues
The city of Ostrava - capital of the country's northeast Moravia-Silesia
region - was bracing itself for a huge demonstration on Thursday, as union
members arrived to protest at crippling unemployment and continuing
economic decline. The region - once known as the steel heart of
Czechoslovakia - employed tens of thousands of people in heavy industry
before 1989. Today, the industrial giants are on their knees, and the
people of Ostrava say they've been left on the scrapheap. The figures seem
to back that up: more than 100,000 people are now out of work, in a region
of 1.2 million. Petr Vanek is the head of the governor's office of the
Moravia-Silesia region.
More
+1
