News

Police chief: Phone bugging levels comparable to elsewhere in Europe

The head of the Czech police force says a new police report has found the amount of telephone bugging in the Czech Republic is comparable to that in other European countries. Police chief Jiri Kolar said he had not been surprised by the results of the study, which was ordered after a phone tapping scandal. But Mr Kolar's opponent on a TV debate programme, Jiri Bily of the opposition Civic Democrats, questioned the report's conclusions.

Some Jewish Community members protest registration of new chairman

Some members of Prague's divided Jewish Community have protested at the Culture Ministry's registration of Frantisek Banyai as its new chairman last week. Mr Banyai's opponents are standing by Tomas Jelinek, who lost a vote of no-confidence last month but has refused to accept the result of the vote. Mr Jelinek barricaded himself into his office on Friday to prevent Mr Banyai taking over.

CSA reports 20 percent increase in number of passengers to New York

Czech Airlines has announced an increase of over 20 percent in the number of passengers it is flying to New York, with a total of 155,000 people flying CSA to the city this year. A spokesperson for Czech Airlines said the fact more than half the tickets were sold in America meant the airline was by far the biggest Czech exporter on the US market.

Karasek among participants in marathon street reading of New Testament

MP and priest Svatopluk Karasek was among dozens of participants in a marathon of reading from the New Testament of the Bible on a Prague street on Saturday. Organisers said the aim of the event, which was being held for the second time, was to bring the Bible closer to people.

Concerts mark fourth Sunday of Advent, shoppers enjoy "Golden Sunday"

Meanwhile, concerts marking the fourth Sunday of Advent have been held in Prague and elsewhere in the Czech Republic. The 19th is also Zlata nedele, or Golden Sunday, the culmination of the last shopping weekend before Christmas.

Sebrle named Sportsperson of the Year after Olympic success

Roman Sebrle has been named Czech Sportsperson of the Year at a ceremony in Prague. Sebrle, who took gold in the decathlon at the Athens Olympic Games, finished ahead of footballer Milan Baros and high-jumper Jaroslav Baba in the poll of Czech sports journalists.

Czechs second in ice hockey's Rosno Cup in Moscow

The Czech Republic have finished second in the Rosno Cup ice hockey tournament in Moscow, after losing 1:0 to hosts Russia in their last game on Sunday. The Czechs had previously beaten Sweden and lost to Finland in the competition. The results leave the Czech Republic third in the four-nation Euro Hockey Tour.

Weather

It is due to get a little colder in the next couple of days, with temperatures ranging from 0 to minus 4 degrees Celsius. The colder weather will be accompanied by sunny spells in many parts of the country.