NEWS
Govt approves crisis plan for health sector
The cabinet on Monday approved a plan by Health Minister Daniela Filipiová to mitigate the impact of the economic crisis on healthcare that would bring the sector some CZK 4.2 billion this year and CZK 7.5 billion next year. Long-term measures, such as payments for above-standard care, could contribute a further CZK 4.5 billion a year.
most Czech press
Maze receives Michelin star in memoriam
The new Michelin edition of Main Cities of Europe released yesterday awarded a star to Gordon Ramsay’s Prague Maze restaurant at the Hilton Prague Old Town hotel, a month after the famous chef announced he was leaving Prague. Allegro restaurant defended its Michelin star from last year.
most Czech press
Cabinet affirms plan to waive social payments for high earners
The cabinet yesterday decided against reintroducing social and health insurance payments for persons earning a gross monthly wage of more than CZK 87,000. The plan to free high-wage individuals from paying social fees was first proposed by PM Mirek Topolánek’s cabinet last year.
HN 1, 3
ČTK: Shimon Peres to visit Prague
Israeli President Shimon Peres will probably visit the Czech Republic on 30 March until 1 April to meet with his Czech counterpart, Václav Klaus, as well as PM Mirek Topolánek and Foreign Minister Karel Schwarzenberg, according to ČTK. Klaus spokesman Radim Ochvat did not comment officially on Peres’ visit.
ČTK
Topolánek: MP Wolf is victim of witch-hunt
PM Mirek Topolánek has admitted that he asked his friend Marek Dalík to provide media help to MP Petr Wolf, who is being investigated by police over the possible misuse of state funds. Topolánek described the media’s behaviour as snooping and Wolf as the victim of a witch-hunt.
most Czech press
738 foreigners apply for free ticket home
As of 15 March, a total of 738 unemployed foreign workers have decided to voluntarily return to their home country and applied for a free air ticket and a EUR 500 allowance. Mongolians showed the biggest interest in the project, with 550 of them having registered in the plan’s first month.
ČTK
Chomutov to target drug addicts
Chomutov will target drug addicts in an attempt to reduce crime, and police will pay special attention to areas where users gather. Chomutov has already announced measures to clamp down on people behind on their rent in public housing and to rehouse rent delinquent tenants in trailers.
ČTK
Antimonopoly office probes ski championships
On Monday, the antimonopoly office (ÚOHS) launched an inquiry into goods procurement in connection with the recent Nordic World Ski Championships in Liberec. The check follows previous findings published by the Supreme Audit Office.
Euro.cz
Sparta fans injure 13-year-old boy
During the Sparta Praha and 1. FC Brno match on Monday, a 13-year-old boy was hit by a home-made explosive and had to be taken to hospital. The boy suffered no major injuries, Sparta spokesman Ondřej Kasík said.
MfD A1, C10
ČR buys nine Baroque paintings
Prague’s National Gallery has bought nine Baroque paintings from a 19th-century collection of Antonín Isidor Lobkowicz. The works, including one by Karel Škréta of St Martin on horseback and Petr Brandl’s portrait of Lobkowicz, were bought for CZK 27.3 million. The cost was covered by the culture and finance ministries.
Právo 4
BUSINESS
ČNB likely to lower economic forecast
Robert Holman, a member of the ČNB board, told Patria.cz yesterday the bank would likely revise downward its prognosis for Czech economic growth this year by 0.3 percentage points. Holman said he personally expects GDP to contract this year by 1%-2%. The Czech Statistical Office last week lowered its figure for GDP growth in the last quarter of 2008 from 1% to 0.7%.
HN 19
Orco refuses to publish loss; share trading halted
Property developer Orco yesterday refused to publish its loss from last year and asked for a halt to trading in its shares on the Prague Stock Exchange until the end of the month. The exchange yesterday froze Orco shares, but trading is expected to resume today. Karel Potměšil, an analyst with Cyrrus, said he expects the stock price to fall sharply. Analysts estimate the company lost EUR 100 million last year.
HN 1, 14, 15
Bendl wants to cut managers’ salaries in state firms
Transport Minister Petr Bendl is planning to cut wages of top managers at some state-owned companies by 10-15% because of the economic crisis. Since Czech Airlines has already lowered its salaries for management, the move is expected to affect managers at Czech Railways, ČD Cargo and the Prague Airport, ministry spokesman Martin Kupka said.
most Czech press
Tipsport to close some branches as online betting rockets
Tipsport, the biggest Czech betting company, will close down dozens of branches as interest in online gambling grows rapidly. Czechs have spent an estimated CZK 100 million betting over the internet since it became legal in January. Tipsport director Petr Knybel said interest in online betting had exceeded his expectations by five times.
HN 13, 17
Czech Post employees to get pay rise
Czech Post, the biggest Czech state employer, will increase wages of its employees by 2.8% to 3.8% on average this year, depending on the job.
HN 16
Glassmaker BCT goes bust
The City Court in Prague on Monday declared glass company Bohemia Crystalex Trading bankrupt. Meanwhile, the government has decided to pay a CZK 30 million subsidy to glass workers who have not received wages for the past several months due to the crisis. The aid also concerns BCT.
HN 13, 16, Právo 7, 17
Prima Cool to start in two weeks
Prima TV will soon launch a new channel, Prima Cool, offering premium programmes and aimed at viewers in their thirties. Prima CEO Marek Singer described the audience as the most demanding on the market and said the channel’s narrow focus should help it attract advertisers.
HN 13, 24
Government debt rises to CZK 999.8bn
The Czech Republic’s state debt, consisting mainly of accumulated budget deficits, rose by CZK 107 billion last year to CZK 999.8 billion, with per capita debt reaching CZK 96,000, according to revised data released Monday by the Finance Ministry.
HN 4, ČTK
Govt rejects ČSSD crisis plan, ban on Prague Airport sale
The government on Monday turned down a bill sponsored by the opposition ČSSD that would ban the privatisation of Prague Airport. Ministers also rejected a ČSSD plan to introduce a millionaire’s tax and a car scrap fee. The measures will still be discussed in the lower house since they were drafted by MPs.
Právo 4, ČTK
ČSA leases two airplanes to Libyan company
Czech Airlines has signed a contract to lease two Boeing 737-400 aircraft and crew to the Libyan company Nayzak Air Transport until May 2010. The deal will bring ČSA hundreds of millions of crowns at a time of falling demand on the European market.
ČTK
KB cuts rates on some mortgages
Until the end of April, Komerční banka is offering a 4.99% rate on new mortgages fixed for five years or longer. The average rate on all mortgage loans sold in January was 5.74%.
ČTK
