Section Archive Current Affairs
Airlines watch skies - and balance books - as no-fly losses mount
Flights to and from the Czech Republic are beginning to resume as normal
after Czech airspace was reopened on Monday, but the country’s airlines
and airports are now counting the cost of disruption. They’re also
nervously watching for news from Iceland after the emergence of a second
ash cloud which threatens to ground European air traffic once again.
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Czech and Slovak Museum in Cedar Rapids celebrates reopening
In June 2008, the Czech and Slovak Museum in the US state of Iowa was hit
by a devastating flood, which has caused damage running into millions of
dollars. Now, nearly two years later, it has opened in a new location in
the Kosek Building, right in the middle of the Czech Village. To mark the
first step on the road to its recovery, the Czech and Slovak Museum has put
up a new exhibition called “Rising Above: the story of a people and the
flood”. I spoke to the museum’s director Gail Naughton.
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Popular Czech children’s book under fire over racist undertones
A racist passage from a popular Czech children’s book recently sparked a
heated debate in the Czech media after a Romany activist asked for it to be
withdrawn from the school curriculum. Thousands of Czechs publicly opposed
the request, which was also dismissed as unjustified by some Romany
organizations. But others believe the issue of racist undertones in some
Czech literary works should be taken seriously.
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Cardinal Tomáš Špidlík dies at the age of 90
One of the greatest Czech theologians, a member of the Jesuit order and a
prolific author, Cardinal Tomáš Špidlík died in Rome on Friday at the
age of 90. He spent most of his life abroad but will be laid to rest in his
native Moravia.
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Flights resume as Czech authorities reopen country’s airspace
Czech authorities have reopened the country’s airspace three days after
all air travel to and from the Czech Republic was grounded; like most of
Europe, flights in the country were affected by the cloud of volcanic ash
from Iceland. The decision to reopen Czech airspace and the country’s
international airports is however only temporary and will be subject to
revision in 48 hours.
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End of an era: Bohemians play last season at legendary Prague stadium
For fans of the Prague soccer club Bohemians 1905, the year 2010 is shaping
up to be the end of an era. Due to several architectural shortcomings that
would cost millions of crowns to fix, the club will have to leave its
storied Ďolíček stadium in Vršovice. But some Bohemians fans believe
that the real reason behind the club’s move is a different one. Sarah
Borufka reports. More
Non-profit sector has grown greatly in 20 years, says organizer of NGO Market
In its 11th year, the NGO Market in Prague gives the public a chance to
acquaint themselves with scores of non-profits both from the Czech Republic
and abroad. Visitors can get to know individual organizations at their
stands, and can also become active themselves, for example by attending
discussions with people who work in the sector. What is the main goal of
the event? That’s a question I put to NGO Market coordinator Alena
Novotná at its opening on Friday morning.
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Klaus given significant chance to influence monetary policy, euro adoption
There were mild ripples of excitement in the banking world this week when
the governor of the central bank announced he would be quitting his post
eight months earlier than expected. Czech National Bank governor Zdeněk
Tůma said he would step down in June to minimise uncertainty caused by
additional changes to the board in February next year. Choosing his
successor is solely up to President Václav Klaus, who now has the chance
to reshape Czech monetary policy.
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Radio Prague’s Christian Falvey interviewing aid workers and soldiers on Afghanistan trip
Regular listeners may have heard an interview on Monday with Radio
Prague’s Christian Falvey, who is currently on a reporting mission in
Afghanistan. He has mainly been doing interviews with workers from the
Czech NGO People in Need, though he has also been talking to some of the
hundreds of Czech soldiers stationed in the country. On Friday morning I
spoke to Christian and asked what he had been up to in the last few days.
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Beroun pronounced Historic Town of the Year 2009
The Central Bohemian town of Beroun has just earned the title of Historic
Town of the Year 2009. The prize, which comes with a million crown award
for the city, honors towns and cities in the Czech Republic that have
excelled in preserving and renewing their monuments and historic buildings.
Sarah Borufka reports.
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