Copyright (c) 2009 Radio Prague (Cesky Rozhlas 7 - Radio Praha)
News Thursday, November 26th, 2009
By: Daniela Lazarova
* The Czech health authorities say the swine flu is proving a greater
threat than previously thought.
* The Czech prime minister has announced the names of three new cabinet
ministers expected to take office on Monday.
* The human rights minister is working on a national plan to curb
domestic violence.
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Swine flu greater threat than previously thought
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The Czech health authorities say the swine flu is proving a greater
threat than previously thought. The head of the Czech Immunology
Society Roman Prymula told the CTK news agency on Thursday that swine
flu caused more health complications and resulted in more deaths than
the seasonal flu. Three regions in the Czech Republic have now reached
the threshold of an epidemic. Eight people have died of the swine flu
or complications resulting from it to date and the health authorities
currently register over 600 cases. Since only patients with serious
problems are tested, experts say the actual number of cases could be
much higher.
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Public concerned about vaccine side-effects
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There is also growing concern among the public regarding the possible
side effects of the swine flu vaccine. Although vaccinations have
started hundreds of chronic patients and health workers have rejected
the offer because they fear the vaccine has not been properly tested.
Health Minister Dana Juraskova has tried to calm fears, saying that the
vaccine was deemed safe enough for children and urging those who are
eligible to get their shot. She advised vaccination centres to ask
people who reject the vaccine to give them a written statement taking
responsibility for their decision.
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PM confirms names of new cabinet ministers
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Prime Minister Jan Fischer on Thursday announced the names of three new
cabinet ministers expected to take office on Monday. The Czech
Republic's ambassador to Australia, Juraj Chmiel, is to replace
European Affairs Minister Stefan Fule who has been nominated as the
Czech candidate for Eurocommissioner. Environment Minister Ladislav
Miko, who is returning to his post in Brussels, will be replaced by his
deputy Jan Dusik and Pavel Zarecky is to be the new head of the
government's legislative council.
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Human rights minister wants to curb domestic violence
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Czech Human Rights Minister Michal Kocab says he is working on a
national plan to curb domestic violence. The plan should help not only
the victims but also children who suffer serious traumas as a result of
witnessing such incidents. Some 10, 000 people have sought help in
connection with domestic violence this year alone, and 92 percent of
the victims are women. Over 1,500 children have had to be placed in
asylum homes with their mothers to protect them from domestic violence.
Close to 700 perpetrators of domestic violence were temporarily
expelled from their homes this year. Mr. Kocab says they should be made
to undergo therapy as well.
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US military plane makes emergency landing in Prague
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A US military plane carrying troops from Iraq was forced to make an
emergency landing in Prague shortly after midnight on Thursday. The
pilot requested an emergency landing after smelling smoke in the
cockpit. The plane landed safely and an airport spokeswoman said no
assistance was necessary. The soldiers were accommodated in a Prague
hotel and are expected to continue their journey home shortly after
midnight on Thursday.
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Gert Wilders cancels visit to Prague
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The Dutch anti-Islamist politician Geert Wilders has cancelled a planed
visit to Prague after his hosts proved unable to find a venue for his
appearance. Mr. Wilders was invited by a Czech anti-Islamist website
and Civic Democrat senator, Jiri Oberfalzer earlier this month for a
screening of his controversial film Fitna and a debate on the subject.
His planned appearance in the Czech Senate was banned, and efforts to
set up the lecture at Prague's Aventin Palace also came to nothing
after the palace management refused to have him on the premises.
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Czech military buys surveillance planes from Israel
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The Czech military has bought two Israeli-made pilotless surveillance
planes for the price of 50 million crowns, the news server Euro
reports. The Skylark II aircraft are used for surveillance in low and
medium altitudes and will be used in the country's foreign missions.
The places were produced by the Elbit Systems company and the order was
mediated by the Czech MP1 Group.
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Two Czechs released from Cuban jail
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Two Czech men who were sentenced to eight months in a Cuban jail for a
breach of the peace earlier this month have been released, Petra
Jecinova, from the Czech embassy in Cuba told the CTK news agency on
Thursday. The two men were detained at Havana Airport on March 22 after
arriving drunk, getting into a fight and resisting arrest. Their
eight-month punishment expired this week since time spent in custody is
regarded as time served. Both men will now be expelled from the country.
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Soccer-Czech league leaders Teplice hit by H1N1 virus
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Czech league leaders Teplice have been hit by illness, including the
H1N1 flu virus, and have asked for Sunday's first division match
against Viktoria Plzen to be postponed, a club spokesman said on
Thursday. Eighteen of the 24 first-team squad are ill, with at least
five suffering from H1N1 flu. Teplice, who are top with 32 points from
15 matches, had already asked for last Monday's match against Olomouc
to be postponed but the Czech FA declined the request. Teplice fielded
a mostly reserve team and lost 6-2.
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Weather
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The coming days should be partly cloudy to overcast with afternoon
highs reaching 10 degrees Celsius.
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Articles posted on www.radio.cz today
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Panorama
A Czech shoe classic gets a makeover
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In 2007, Prague graphic design students Jan Kloss and Jakub Korous
updated the 1966 model of the classic Czech Botas sneaker for a school
assignment. Little did they know that their chic version of the retro
sneaker would be a huge hit. I recently met with the two young
designers at their Zizkov studio.
http://www.radio.cz/en/article/122602
Current Affairs
The library can be sexy too, say naked students
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The concept of the library needs some spicing up, it seems. Too drab,
too grey, too asexual, say student bookworms at Brno's Masaryk
University. So how to improve the situation? How about taking off the
librarian's clothes? Guerrilla Readers, an association whose primary
aim is to promote reading, has printed a calendar to give some sex
appeal to libraries in 2010.
http://www.radio.cz/en/article/122597
Current Affairs
Current musical artists celebrate 50 years of Semafor Theatre with new
CD
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Last month Prague's famous Semafor Theatre, which launched the careers
of numerous Czech performers, celebrated its 50th birthday. Now a new
compilation album featuring remakes of original songs by Semafor's
classic singing/song-writing duo of Jiri Suchy and the late Jiri Slitr
is set to be released. The CD features contemporary musicians popular
on today's music scene, including Tata Bojs, Jiri Burian, and the
electronic trio MIDI LIDI. The latter worked on a re-make of 1965 hit
"What I had for Dinner Today".
http://www.radio.cz/en/article/122596
Current Affairs
Expectations high for new Czech film 3 Seasons in Hell
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Just a few days after the Czech film Protektor took a prize at a
festival in Denver, another ambitious project is just entering the
cinemas across the country. Thursday night will see the official
premiere of 3 sezony v pekle or 3 Seasons in Hell. The feature debut by
Tomas Masin, a Czech, Slovak and German co-production, has already
received praise by Czech reviewers.
http://www.radio.cz/en/article/122595
Current Affairs
PM Fischer reveals new members of his government
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The caretaker government of Prime Minister Jan Fischer is undergoing
its first major change since it was sworn in seven months ago. The
Czech prime minister has announced the names of new ministers of
European affairs and environment, along with the new head of the
government's legislative council.
http://www.radio.cz/en/article/122594
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