Wednesday, 17 March 2010
National | ČTK
Respekt: Election campaign avoids challenges

The campaign ahead of May general elections ignores major topics despite the challenges the country is facing, such as the growing state debt, the need for various reforms and the crisis of the European Union, Marek Švehla writes in the weekly Respekt out yesterday. Parties are afraid to say anything unpopular, Švehla points out. Moreover, it is not clear who wants to rule the country with whom after the elections, unlike in the 2006 elections, he adds.
Prague | ČTK
Rare Egyptian tortoise hatches in Prague zoo

A young Egyptian tortoise, one of the world's most endangered species, hatched in the Prague zoo this weekend.
National | ČTK
Romani family in Ostrava suffers Molotov cocktail attack

An unknown perpetrator attacked a Romani family's house with a Molotov cocktail in Ostrava's Bedřiška neighbourhood on Saturday night, injuring no one.
National | ČTK
Právo: Most restaurants smoke-free by July

A new law will ban smoking in more than half of restaurants in Prague as of July, Pavel Hlinka of the Czech Hotels and Restaurants Association told Právo.
News | ČTK
Czech, Canadian diplomats favour visa-free travel

Further talks between the Czech Republic and Canada should lead to the future cancellation of Canadian visas for Czechs, Czech Foreign Ministry Spokesman Filip Kanda said.
National | ČTK
Number of foreign employees in ČR fell in 2009

According to the Czech Statistical Office's figures, foreigners' interest in settling down in the Czech Republic plummeted in 2009.
National | ČTK
HN: Czech travel agency caters to gay couples

Eso Travel has come up with a special vacation offer for gays and lesbians, the first of its kind in central and eastern Europe, Hospodářské noviny reported yesterday.
National | ČTK
Catholic priest says church should consider sex rules

Church representatives in cooperation with theologians, psychologists and teachers should contemplate the problems of Christian ethic and church rules for sex life, Catholic priest Tomáš Halík told ČTK in reaction to sexual abuse of children in church facilities.
Politics | ČTK
ODS to start election campaign on Wednesday

The Civic Democrats plan to begin their election campaign on Wednesday, ODS Chairman Mirek Topolánek said yesterday.
National | ČTK
Far-right Workers' Party appeals its ban

The extreme-right Workers' Party yesterday emailed an appeal against its dissolution to the Constitutional Court, challenging the decision, party leader Tomáš Vandas told ČTK.
National | ČTK
Govt passes plan to increase no. of kids with disabilites in regular schools

A higher number of children with disabilities as well as Roma should attend regular schools within a national action plan that the caretaker government approved yesterday.
National | ČTK
Poll: Most Czechs want referenda

According to a poll conducted by the polling institute CVVM, most Czechs would like to contribute to the decision-making process through referendums.