NEWS
Six die in floods
Floods hitting the Vsetín and Nový Jičín areas caused six deaths, threatening dozens of other people and affecting hundreds of houses. Two people drowned and four more died as a result of health complications when rescuers could not reach them. The number of casualties may not be final.
most Czech press
Terrorists planned to target Czech diplomatic missions in Pakistan
Swedish daily Aftonbladet yesterday reported that a man arrested in Pakistani Islamabad with two tonnes of explosives had planned to target the Swedish embassy and four other western offices. Ritzau and MTI agencies stated that other targets included Czech, Norwegian, South African, Italian and Hungarian diplomatic missions. Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed the information, but said that there was no direct threat to the Czech embassy in Islamabad.
most Czech press
Topolánek denies liability for losses on Liberec championship
Former Prime Minister Mirek Topolánek yesterday denied his cabinet’s responsibility for the financial failure of this year’s World Nordic Ski Championship in Liberec. Topolánek said the decision to organise the championships came from ČSSD Prime Minister Vladimír Špidla in 2005 based on documents estimating the costs of constructing required infrastructure alone at CZK 1.2 billion. Špidla cabinet only earmarked CZK 569 million though. Current debt of the championships is CZK 100 million.
ČTK, LN 3
Opposition: Olympic Games bid cost CZK 100m
Prague City Councillor Jiří Witzany (SNK ED) yesterday published findings that the amount spent on preparations for the city’s Olympic Games bid had exceeded CZK 100 million and is likely to grow. The figures refuted Prague City Hall’s announcement from last week that some CZK 70 million had been spent on the preparations. Witzany said the CZK 70 million represented only the sum spent on Praha olympijská organisation, and further funds were used by other city hall departments.
Pd 1, 2, Právo 11
Prague ODS and KDU-ČSL announce leaders for election
Deputy Chairman David Vodrážka and Prague Mayor Pavel Bém will head Prague ODS’s team for the early elections. ODS leader Mirek Topolánek plans to launch the campaign in Southern Moravia at the start of August with public meetings and pledges of support for local infrastructure. Prague KDU-ČSL announced that the party chair Cyril Svoboda will lead its candidates.
HN 4, ČTK
Prague main train station launches departure lounge
Prague’s main train station yesterday opened a new departure lounge for Czech Railways. Lounge services will be launched gradually beginning with international ticket sales and priority dispatches. All services should operate from 8 July.
most Czech press
New helicopters ready for Afghanistan
The Czech army has received revamped Mi-171Š helicopters that should commence operations in Afghanistan in December. The helicopters were updated at the army’s LOM repair centre and they passed all testing on Friday.
ČTK
Regions ask PM to change state VZP reps
South Moravian Governor and head of the Association of Regions Michal Hašek asked Prime Minister Jan Fischer to replace the state’s representatives on the administrative and supervisory boards of insurance company VZP. The regions objected to VZP’s failure to secure standard contracts with some health institutions.
ČTK
BUSINESS
OECD: Czech GDP to fall 4.2% this year
According to a forecast published by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) yesterday, Czech Republic’s GDP should fall by 4.2% this year, but will be up by 1.4% in 2010. Czech analysts expect a fall of only 3% this year. Chief OECD economist Jorgen Elmeskov told Reuters that the world economy has not bottomed out.
most Czech press
State extends ČSA privatisation deadline
The state has decided to extend the deadline until 15 September for submitting binding bids in the Czech Airlines privatisation. The original deadline was 13 July. The decision was based on a request from bidders.
HN 16, MfD B2, C1, C2
Court rejects Nomura’s suit against ČSOB
Prague City Court yesterday rejected a suit filed against ČSOB by Japanese Nomura over the defunct IPB Bank. Nomura demanded some CZK 1 billion in compensation for alleged unfair competition.
ČTK, E15 10
Janota dismissed head of state coffer project
Finance Minister Eduard Janota yesterday dismissed Pavel Nevšímal as head of the state’s electronic coffer project. The project will now be managed by head of regional budget and programme financing Jan Zikl. The new national coffer system should allow detailed monitoring of state organisational financing. Janota added that he did not approve of the final version of the project’s information system whose details must be fixed.
ČTK
Barrandov seeks investor
Barrandov Studios and the new TV Barrandov, which are both owned by the investment group led by Moravia Steel, are looking for a strategic investor, according to the director of both companies Jana Vozárová. TV Barrandov, which started broadcasting this January, expects that it will end CZK 420 million in the red for 2009. The studios have been affected by a shift of Hollywood interest to Hungary, Germany, and the UK due to tax incentives, the daily E15 wrote.
E15 1, 8
HN: Bank fees in ČR highest in region
Bank clients in the Czech Republic pay higher account administration costs than their counterparts throughout central Europe, according to an annual survey by Hospodářské noviny. mBank’s fees were lowest and GE Money’s the most expensive. UniCredit Bank was ranked first and Česká spořitelna second for best bank based on clients’ assessments and the banks’ financial health.
HN 1-3
Exchange offices running out of euro
Several exchange offices in the Czech Republic have run out of euro due to a low exchange rate that has encouraged sales. The euro fell to CZK 26 on Monday and exchange offices have recorded enormous demand since then. Raiffeisen Bank, UniCredit Bank and Komerční banka are not affected.
iDnes.cz
ČSOB clients plan protest
Civic association SOS ČSOB is planning a rally of clients allegedly harmed by the bank in front of ČSOB’s Prague headquarters. Members of the organisation claim they lost their savings based on bank advice to invest in Icelandic bonds. ČSOB denies making any mistake.
ČTK
Sanofi-Aventis will run generic drug production from Prague
Sanofi-Aventis, the new owner of Zentiva, will make Prague its centre for generic pharmaceuticals, Sanofi CEO Chris Viehbacher said. As a strategic acquisition for Sanofi, Zentiva will keep its name. Sanofi plans to extend Zentiva’s generic drugs to other markets outside Western Europe.
HN 15-17
Prague Airport launches mobile phone check-in
Prague Airport operator Letiště Praha will launch a check-in service via mobile phone tomorrow. Air France-KLM will be the first airline to take advantage of the system on its routes from Prague to Paris and Amsterdam.
Právo 14
Sklárny Heřmanova Hut’ ends production
Sklárny Heřmanova Hut’ glassworks (SHH) yesterday shut down its furnaces after 102 years of production. 72 of the company’s 84 employees will be laid off in August due to a lack of commissions. Company management plans to restart production after store products run out. SHH is the only producer of beer and other drinking glasses in this country.
ČTK
Budvar increased revenue, decreased profit
Budějovický Budvar brewery increased revenue by 1.6% to CZK 2.34 billion last year. The company’s untaxed profit fell by almost 30% to CZK 213 million. Budvar lost CZK 140 million due to the strong crown last year.
ČTK
Unions warn of drop in teachers’ wages
School unions yesterday warned that the salaries of teachers in kindergartens, primary and secondary schools might fall by CZK 1,000 monthly under planned budget cuts. The unions plan to lodge a petition demanding that the budget ensure proper conditions for teachers and students. Education Ministry said it was too early to estimate funds.
ČTK
