News

Debate on church restitutions bill postponed

The lower house of Parliament has postponed until June a debate on a controversial bill on church restitutions. The bill came under fire from opposition Social Democrats who said they were ready to file a constitutional complaint against it if it was approved in its present form. Under the bill, the state would return some of the church property confiscated by the communist regime and compensate religious orders for the rest. The compensation money would be paid out over a period of 60 years and would amount to 270 billion crowns. The opposition, and even some coalition deputies say this sum is outrageous and are demanding to know how government and church representatives had arrived at that figure.

Two members of Berdych gang to be extradited to the Czech Republic

The Supreme Court of Ireland on Tuesday upheld a 2007 verdict saying Czech Tomáš Půta and Slovak Maroš Šulej, alleged members of the infamous Berdych crime ring, may be extradited to the Czech Republic. Půta and Šulej were detained in Ireland on an Interpol arrest warrant in August 2006. They have been in Irish custody since then. Last year, a lower-level Irish court decided there were no obstacles to their extradition to the Czech Republic, but both men appealed the verdict. Půta and Šulej, a former member of a Slovak riot police unit, have been prosecuted in the largest organised crime case in the Czech Republic in which elite policemen were involved. The Berdych gang is suspected of murders, robberies and extortion of rich entrepreneurs.

Teachers still threatening to go on strike

Education Minister Ondřej Liška’s promise of a 5-percent pay-rise for teachers this year has failed to avert the threat of a strike in the education sector. Minister Liška announced the increase on Monday, saying that teachers would get an extra 0.5 billion crowns from the 2008 state budget and another four billion crowns next year. Teachers who have been threatening strike action for months are demanding a bigger increase on the basis of rising inflation. They claim that with inflation of 7.5 percent in the first quarter their real incomes have dropped significantly. The minister says he wants to engage in further negotiations with teachers’ trade unions.

US may hire private security agency to protect radar base

The Unites States is considering hiring a private security agency to protect the planned US radar base on Czech soil, according to Tuesday’s edition of Pravo. The paper cites well informed sources who are engaged in Czech-American talks which should specify the conditions under which some 250 US soldiers would operate the radar base on Czech territory. Czech Deputy Defense Minister Martin Barták said previously that the Czechs would be responsible for the outer security of the base which would be protected by the country’s military police. The bilateral agreement also stipulates that in emergency situations – such as a fire – Czechs would have immediate access to the base. However such emergency crews would need to have security vetting.

iPhone to come to the Czech Republic

British mobile phone giant Vodafone announced on Tuesday that it will distribute Apple's iPhone in 10 new countries including the Czech Republic. The phones, which are to appear on the market later this year, will be compatible with the Vodafone network. The company did not specify what iPhone model would be made available or at what price. Launched one year ago, officially the iPhone is only available in the United States, Britain, France, Germany, Ireland and Austria.

Prime minister visits Estonia

Czech Prime Minister Mirek Topolánek is on a one-day visit to Estonia where he is holding a series of meetings with senior government officials. The two sides are discussing trade relations, missile-defense issues and visa-free travel to the United States. Both countries recently signed memoranda in Washington opening the way for visa-free travel to the US for their citizens. Estonian Prime Minister Andrus Ansip said he would welcome the siting of a US radar base in the Czech Republic saying it would improve security on the whole European continent.

Nine-year-old still missing

A nation-wide search is on for a missing nine-year-old boy from the town of Havlíčkův Brod in South Moravia. Jakub Šimánek went missing on Sunday afternoon and the police have been unable to find any trace of him. Hundreds of officers have been combing the park where he was last seen playing as well as nearby woods and the banks of Sázava River. The police has appealed to the public for help.

Fourth case of meningitis in South Bohemia

Doctors have reported a fourth case of meningitis in South Bohemia since the start of the year. The latest case is reported to be a seven year old girl who is in critical condition. A fifteen year old boy died of the infection earlier this year. Early signs of meningitis are similar to flu symptoms and doctors have warned parents not to underestimate their children’s health complaints and get them checked up by doctor since a delay in treating meningitis can result in death.

Czech athlete pulls out of the Olympics due to pregnancy

Czech pole vaulter Pavla Hamackova-Rybova, the 2001 world indoor champion, has pulled out of the Beijing Olympics because she is pregnant. The Czech athlete won bronze at the world championships in 2005. She qualified for Beijing in February with a jump of 4.53m at a meet in Bad Oeynhausen, Germany.

Weather

The next few days are expected to be sunny to partly cloudy with scattered showers and afternoon highs reaching 20 degrees Celsius.