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NewsPrague’s famous Orloj celebrates 600th anniversary

Current AffairsBrno’s new clock provokes colourful reactions

The south Moravian city of Brno has a new attraction. The city hall recently unveiled a new clock in the central Freedom Square which officials hope will become a new symbol of the city. But many locals snicker at the six-metre tall object, and not just because it’s quite hard to tell the time from it.  More

Current AffairsControversial Entropa gets permanent home in Plzeň

A controversial sculpture known as Entropa, by the famous Czech artist David Černý, has found a permanent home in Plzeň. The giant artwork was unveiled this week at the Techmania Science Museum, which acquired it for 10.2 million crowns. Some will remember that Entropa caused something of a scandal last year when it was unveiled in Brussels as part of the Czech EU presidency. It offended some in the manner in which it ridiculed national stereotypes – depicting Bulgaria, for example, as a Turkish squat toilet. Since then, the controversy has abated, but there’s no question Entropa remains a riveting work.  More

NewsControversial artwork sold to Plzeň museum

Letter from PragueStatues –all change!

This week the city hall of Ústí nad Labem opened a new atrium which it had reconstructed at considerable expense - more than thirty million crowns. It was back-slapping, smiles and congratulations all round as people gathered to view the new site, but the speeches and fanfare accompanying the event were somewhat dampened by the black looks some of the locals directed at members of the local administration. As far as they were concerned there was a fly in the ointment, because the bronze statue dominating the new atrium was more than familiar.  More

Current AffairsEx-policeman sentenced to jail for brutal assault on Vietnamese that ended in death

A Brno court on Tuesday sentenced a former police officer to three and a half years in prison for a brutal assault on a Vietnamese national which took place in January 2009. The man later died of serious internal injuries. The court also handed a two-and-a- half year sentence to the victim’s flatmate for participating in the attack. Two other policemen, who were standing by but did not interfere, landed conditional sentences.  More

NewsStatistics on migrants

Current AffairsIce bust of Czech president on display near government HQ causes stir

This week, an art piece exhibited in front of Czech government headquarters caused a bit of a stir. An ice sculpture of the head of President Václav Klaus that slowly melted in the sun did not amuse officials, who had commissioned students to create artworks for a nearby garden. The offending artist, sculpting student Markéta Jáchimová, decided to display her piece despite orders not to.  More

Current AffairsTop documentary prize goes to film about Vietnamese immigrants

The Pavel Koutecký prize for documentary film is awarded to “tireless observers of the world with the ability to convey their feelings and insights through film.” This year, the work chosen as best able to meet those criteria was “Country of Dreams”, by writer and director Martin Ryšavý. The film takes a hard look at the lives and tribulations of the Vietnamese community in the Czech Republic.  More

NewsStudent displays president’s bust despite government ban