Copyright (c) 2010 Radio Prague (Cesky Rozhlas 7 - Radio Praha)
News Thursday, February 4th, 2010
By: Jan Richter
* In the wake of a recent scandal, the Czech prime minister has asked
for a review of the anti-theft policies of the energy giant CEZ.
* The Czech ombudsman has warned that thousands of the country's
disabled are on the verge of poverty.
* The Czech National Bank has predicted the country's GDP will grow by
1.4 percent this year.
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PM Fischer asks for review of CEZ anti-theft policies
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The Czech Prime Minister, Jan Fischer, has asked the finance minister
and other public shareholders of the energy giant CEZ to make sure the
firm's anti-theft policies do not breach the law. The state-controlled
CEZ has come under criticism after Czech media published on Tuesday
graphic video footage depicting the training of the company's anti
theft unit. Another video also showed that a man, suspected of stealing
electricity, allegedly committed suicide. The prime minister said each
individual and company has the right to protect themselves from crime,
but that such protection must be in compliance with the law. CEZ CEO,
Martin Roman, admitted that the anti-theft squad made some "mistakes"
in the past. However, the squad needed proper training as they often
face criminal gangs stealing electricity from CEZ, Mr Roman added.
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Head of controversial CEZ unit suspended
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In related news, CEZ CEO Martin Roman temporarily suspended the head of
the company's controversial anti-theft unit, Karel Vanis. A CEZ
spokesman said Mr Vanis was carrying a weapon during one of the squad's
raids that took place in 2006. The company's management reportedly only
learned of the incident on Thursday, and asked the police to look into
the case.
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Ombudsman: thousands of disabled verge on poverty
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The Czech ombudsman, Otakar Motejl, warned on Thursday that thousands
of the country's disabled were on the verge of poverty. Mr Motejl told
reporters that a Czech law aimed at protecting the handicapped should
quickly be amended; if MPs fail to do so, many disabled Czechs will
face poverty.
The relevant act was tightened in 2009 as part of a government drive to
combat welfare abuse. It now only grants disability pensions to people
who had previously worked and paid social insurance. Those with the
most serious disabilities who were unable to work, however, are as of
January 2010 not eligible for any state subsidies. The ombudsman
believes the current situation is a breach of their constitutional
rights.
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Czech National Bank predicts 1.4 percent growth of GDP in 2010
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The Czech National Bank announced on Thursday its prediction that the
country's gross domestic product will grow by 1.4 percent this year.
The bank's governor, Zdenek Tuma, said their outlook for the economy
had not changed from the previous estimate, released in January.
Meanwhile, experts from the International Monetary Fund, who visited
the Czech Republic last month, said they expected the Czech economy to
grow by 1.5 percent in 2010, and the Czech Finance Ministry predicts a
growth of 1.3 percent.
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Central bank keeps interest rate at one percent
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In related news, the Czech National Bank on Thursday decided to keep
the key interest rate at a record low 1 percent. Analysts believe that
among the main reasons behind the central bank's decision is the weak
growth of the Czech economy and a low risk of inflation.
Most experts do not expect the bank to lower the interest rates any
further. They believe the rates will rise, with the only question being
when it will happen. The Czech National Bank lowered the key interest
rate to the historic low last December.
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Government wants fewer swine flu vaccines than initially planned
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The Czech Republic's Security Council has asked the health minister,
Dana Juraskova, to see if the authorities can only receive part of one
million swine flu vaccines they originally ordered. However, the
minister said on Thursday that the government would not change its
vaccination strategy, which involves distributing some 700,000 vaccines
to the seriously ill, health care workers and selected officials.
The minister told the daily Pravo that the council agreed to negotiate
with the vaccine's producer, GlaxonSmithKline, at its session last
week. As the contract between the pharmaceutical and the Czech state
does not provide for such an option, an appendix to the contract would
have to be negotiated, a spokesman for the ministry said.
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Foreign Minister Jan Kohout released from hospital
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Czech Foreign Minister Jan Kohout was released from a hospital in
Prague on Thursday, two days after he was admitted for observation due
to severe nausea. The ministry released no further details but said Mr
Kohout would follow his programme as scheduled. This includes a session
of the Czech government next week, and a trip to Lebanon and Syria the
week after that.
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Ferdinand Peroutka Awards for outstanding journalism handed out
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The Ferdinand Peroutka Awards for outstanding journalism were handed
out in Prague on Thursday. Among this year's recipients are economic
columnist for the weekly Respekt Jan Machacek, Petruska Sustrova from
the daily Lidove Noviny, and writer Pavel Kosatik.
The awards are named after Ferdinand Peroutka, one of the most
significant figures of Czech journalism in the 20th century. He began
his career in 1919 but left Czechsolovakia after the communist coup of
1948 and settled in New York.
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Prison guards prevent courthouse escape
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Prison guards have prevented an Uzbek national from escaping from a
Prague courthouse after the man attacked the men escorting him and
tried to seize their guns. A spokeswoman for the court told reporters
on Thursday that the man was one of four Uzbeks charged with murder.
They had been previously planning a prison escape and the murder of a
prison guard, she said.
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Czech athletes head to Vancouver ahead of Olympics
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Part of the Czech team for the Winter Olympic Games left Prague for
Vancouver on Thursday. Among those in the group are acrobatic skier
Nikola Sudova, who has recently been battling to get fit in time for
the Olympics. Sudova, whose discipline is moguls, says she is going to
Vancouver to compete, not just take part. The team's cross country
skiers, including medal hopeful Lukas Bauer, are already in Canada
training. The Czech Republic took four medals at the last Winter
Olympics in Turin and Czech newspapers have been speculating that the
country could well do better this time out.
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Weather
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The end of the week should be overcast, with snow in most places.
Highest day temperatures should reach 3 degrees Celsius.
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Articles posted on www.radio.cz today
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Panorama
The role a Czech company played in the building of the Burj Dubai
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Last month spelt the end of a major six-year-project for Czech
businessman Pavel Policar, the head of a company that helped build what
is now the world's tallest building, the Arab Emirates' Burj Khalifa
(until recently the Burj Dubai). At an incredible 828 metres, it is the
world's tallest free-standing manmade structure. And it was the
family-owned company, Pega, based in Pardubice - founded by Pavel
Policar's father-in-law - that designed and built the world
record-breaking construction elevators that helped make the tower a
reality.
http://www.radio.cz/en/article/124739
Current Affairs
Cuckoo, declining in numbers in Czech Republic, named Bird of Year
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The common cuckoo has just been named Bird of the Year 2010 by the
Czech Society for Ornithology. One of the aims of the annual award is
to draw attention to the problems faced by particular species of birds.
In the case of the cuckoo, ornithologists report a baffling fall in
numbers over the last few decades.
http://www.radio.cz/en/article/124725
Current Affairs
Pilots seek to curb threat of lasers being used against civilian planes
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The Czech Airline Pilots Association has revealed a worrying
development in the Czech Republic: the escalation of laser device
attacks from the ground on civilian planes. In 2009, unknown
perpetrators aimed Level 3 lasers at airplane windscreens, temporarily
blinding pilots for at least for a couple of seconds. Devices capable
of such mischief, which can cause permanent eye damage, are apparently
readily available without restrictions, one reason the pilots are
seeking tougher legislation.
http://www.radio.cz/en/article/124722
Current Affairs
Campaigners sound alarm over proposed change to road noise limits
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The business freesheet E15 has reported that the Czech Transport
Ministry is looking at ways to increase acceptable limits of noise
pollution in order to build new roads without breaking health and
safety laws. So far the government ministries allegedly examining the
proposals have denied knowledge of them, but noise pollution
campaigners are already ringing the alarm bells.
http://www.radio.cz/en/article/124720
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