Kaczynski to discuss Lisbon Treaty with Klaus on Czech visit
The Polish president, Lech Kaczynski, is holding talks with his Czech counterpart Václav Klaus on Thursday evening.
The two heads of state are expected to discuss the ratification of the European Union’s Lisbon Treaty at the Czech presidential retreat Lány, near Prague. Mr Kaczynski had said he would not sign the reform treaty in the wake of Ireland’s rejection of the document, but changed his position after a meeting with Nicolas Sarkozy the president of France, which currently holds the rotating EU presidency. Mr Klaus, who is a euro-sceptic, has consistently expressed opposition to further EU integration.
The Czech Parliament is due to vote on the ratification of the Treaty of Lisbon towards the end of this year, after the Czech Constitutional Court rules on whether it is in line with the Czech constitution. The news website iDnes reported on Thursday that the government of Prime Minister Mirek Topolánek was attempting to persuade the court to rule in favour of Lisbon.
Number of mortgages provided falls by 20 percent
There was a 20-percent fall in the number of mortgages provided by Czech banks in the first half of this year, according to figures released by the Ministry for Regional Development. The decrease has been largely attributed to the fact that 2007 saw extremely high demand for mortgages due to expected rises in the VAT rate on construction work and interest rates.
“Pub cartoonist” Urban doing illustrations for new edition of Svejk
A new edition of Jaroslav Hašek’s classic novel The Good Soldier Svejk: And his Fortunes in the World War with illustrations by Petr Urban is being prepared for publication in September, Vanda Stankeová of publishers XYZ said on Thursday. Petr Urban is known for bawdy cartoons often involving Czech pub life. His work is closer to the spirit of Hašek than that of the other well-known illustrators who were interested in taking part in the project, said Ms Stankeová.
Prague Airport handles record numbers in first half of 2008
Prague Airport handled a record 5.9 million passengers in the first half of this year, according to figures released by its operators on Thursday. Two and a half million of those passengers flew on the Czech national airline CSA, while almost a quarter flew on budget airlines. There was a 4.3 percent increase year-on-year in take-offs and landings.
Police search for former ice hockey international after fatal collision
One man was killed in a four-vehicle collision near Hradec Kralové on Thursday morning. The news website novinky.cz reported that the crash – involving two cars, a truck and a van – may have been caused by former Czech ice hockey international Ladislav Lubina. Police were reported to be searching for Mr Lubina, who fled the scene. The man who died is believed to have been the father of former football international Vratislav Lokvenc.
HIV positive man arrested over needle mugging
Police in Prague have arrested an HIV positive man who carried out a mugging by threatening to infect a passer-by with a hypodermic needle. The 21-year-old man, a drug addict who also has hepatitis B, was picked up by the foreigners police, who were conducting controls in the centre of the capital on Wednesday.
Authorities alarmed by hepatitis A epidemic in Prague
Meanwhile, Prague authorities have expressed alarm over an epidemic of hepatitis A which is particularly affecting drug addicts in the city. Around 100 people have contracted the disease since January, compared to the 36 and 13 cases recorded in the whole of 2007 and 2006. The incidence of hepatitis A is 30 times higher in the capital than elsewhere in the country.
Czech film archive set to get new building
The Czech National Film Archive is to get a new headquarters under a plan approved by the government. The Culture Ministry, which will oversee the project, expects construction to begin in 2013. No site has as yet been acquired for the project.
Bronze for Under 19s at “home” European Championship
The Czech Republic's Under 19 football team have taken a bronze medal at the European Championship, after being knocked out in the semi-finals on Wednesday night. The Czechs, playing in front of a home crowd in Mladá Boleslav, were drawing Germany 1:1 after 90 minutes but went out after conceding a second goal in extra time.
Kreuziger 13th overall in Tour de France after finishing eighth in latest stage
The Czech cyclist Roman Kreuziger finished eighth in stage 18 of the Tour de France on Thursday. Kreuziger, who is 22 and taking part in the famous race for the first time, is 13th overall. He remains in second place in the Tour’s under 25s category.
Weather
It should get warmer over the next few days, with temperatures set to reach up to 30 degrees Celsius at the weekend. Forecasters say it will be sunny with rain or even storms at times.
(radio-Prague)
<< Back