------------------------------------------------------------------------
Copyright (c) 2010 Radio Prague (Cesky Rozhlas 7 - Radio Praha)
News Monday, February 8th, 2010
By: Chris Johnstone
* The Czech government has adopted a programme paving the way for
possible adoption of the euro in 2016 or 2017
* Czech unemployment climbed to a five year high of 9.8 percent in
January
* The government has added almost 40 entries to its list of national
cultural treasures
========================================================================
Czech government adopts programme paving way for euro adoption
------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Czech government adopted a programme paving the way for adoption of
the single currency euro on Monday. The so-called convergence programme
calls for the Czech budget deficit to be reduced to 3.0 percent of
Gross Domestic Product by 2013 or 2014, Prime Minister Jan Fischer
said. The deficit was 6.6 percent in 2009. Such a move would, according
to Minister of Finance Eduard Janota, allow the euro to be adopted in
2016 or 2017. The two main political parties have come out for a faster
deficit reduction in recent days. The Civic Democrats say the 3.0
percent limit should be reached in 2012, allowing theoretical euro
adoption in 2015. The Social Democrats say euro adoption could take
place by 2016.
========================================================================
Czech unemployment rises to 9.8 percent in January
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Average Czech unemployment rose in January to 9.8 percent from
December's 9.2 percent, the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs
announced on Monday. The unemployment rate in January 2009 stood at 6.8
percent. The latest figures represent a five year high in the jobless
rate last seen at this level in January 2005. Continuing lay-offs and
the end of seasonal work are factors contributing to the higher rate.
Some analysts expect the worst is now over and that the Czech
unemployment rate might not push through the 10 percent barrier.
Others, however, warn that further rises in unemployment could occur in
the first quarter of the year and that the rate will only then
stabilise given expected economic growth of around 1.5 percent this
year.
========================================================================
Trade balance hits record high in 2009
------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Czech Republic's trade balance rose to a record surplus of 153.2
billion crowns in 2009. That is more than double 2008's surplus of 67.3
billion. The total is the highest since 2005 when the foreign trade
balance started to be positive. Figures from the national statistics
office showed a 2.8 billion surplus in December compared with a deficit
of around 9.0 billion a year earlier. The volume of trade dropped
sharply in 2009 due to the economic crisis. Imports declined by 18.1
percent compared with 2008 and exports by 14.1 percent, according to
estimates by the office. One of the main factors in the record figure
for the year was a sharply reduced deficit for trade in fuels such as
oil.
========================================================================
Government adds to national monuments list
------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Czech government on Monday approved a list of 38 new national
cultural monuments. The list includes the striking modern Church of the
Most Sacred Heart of Our Lord in the Vinohrady district of Prague, the
Imperial Spa at Karlovy Vary, the colonnade in Marianske Lazne and the
renaissance castle in Vimperk. The list also includes the famous
Czechoslovak locomotive the so-called "Slovenska Strela" which was
first built in 1936 using an aerodynamic design. The train was used
between Prague and Bratislava. Before the additions, there were 236
national monuments.
========================================================================
US military to make use of Czech computer networks research: report
------------------------------------------------------------------------
US armed forces will probably make use of Czech research for protecting
computer networks against hackers and terrorist attacks, the Czech News
Agency reported on Monday. Czech experts at the cybernetics department
of the Czech Technical University have developed algorithms which can
better protect networks against attack, the agency said. That research
will probably be taken up by the US army this year, it added. The
research into network security forms part of a series of projects at
the university funded by US defence and government agencies with more
than 20 being financed since 1999. The Czech Republic is one of a
handful of countries that have signed a strategic defence cooperation
agreement with the US.
========================================================================
President Klaus meets with Egyptian counterpart
------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Czech president, Vaclav Klaus, met with his Egyptian counterpart
Hosni Mubarak on Monday during a three-day visit to Egypt. According to
Mr Klaus' office one of the points discussed was the prospect for a
major exhibition of Egyptian archaeological finds at Prague castle
within the next two years. The Czech President also invited Mr Mubarak
to the Czech Republic with hopes raised that the visit could occur this
year. The Egyptian president last visited in 1994. Talks also covered
trade relations and relations between Israel and Palestine. Mr Klaus
was also due to take part in a signing of the Arabic version of his
book Blue Planet in Green Shackles, which questions the belief that
mankind is responsible for global warming.
========================================================================
Vaclav Havel cancels engagements due to health problems
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Former Czech President Vaclav Havel has been forced to cancel his
engagements for the coming days because of breathing difficulties, his
office announced on Monday. Spokeswoman Sabina Tancevova said Mr Havel
was taking antibiotics to counter respiratory problems. Havel was due
on Monday to take part in a press conference of a new book by
journalist Karel Hvizd'ala which includes interviews with Havel and
fellow communist era dissident Pavel Landovsky. Mr Havel, a former
heavy smoker whose health suffered during imprisonment under the
Communist regime, had part of his right lung removed in the late 1990's
when cancer was diagnosed.
========================================================================
Social Democrats top preferences in January voting poll
------------------------------------------------------------------------
A survey of voting intentions released by the Median agency on Monday
has shown the left of centre Social Democrats in front with 33 percent
of preferences from those questioned. The right of centre Civic
Democrats had 27.8 percent according to the survey carried out in
January. The Communist Party would receive support of 12.8 percent with
the TOP 09 party getting 9.3 percent and the Christian Democrats 7.4
percent. The Green Party would fall just under the minimum 5.0 percent
ceiling for winning seats in the lower house with 5.5 percent.
Elections to the Czech lower house will be held on the last weekend in
May.
========================================================================
Social Democrat leader backs abolition of coal mining limits
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Social Democratic leader Jiri Paroubek said on Monday that he
personally backed the abolition of current coal mining limits in the
northern Usti region. Mr Paroubek said the move would be good for local
jobs and help guarantee energy security for the country. He added
however that his party should take a stand on the issue and suggested
it should be put to a regional referendum. Regional referenda are
currently not possible though the Social Democrats have tabled a
proposal in the lower house that would change that. The issue of
whether to allow mining in areas beyond the existing limits is
developing into a major issue in the lower house elections due at the
end of May. Former Green Party leader Martin Bursik has announced he
will stand in the Usti region against Paroubek, whom he accuses of
preparing environmental destruction.
========================================================================
Czech Airlines announces 1.5 percent drop in scheduled passengers
------------------------------------------------------------------------
State-controlled carrier Czech Airlines transported 4.7 million
passengers in 2009, a drop of 1.5 percent compared with the previous
year. The airline suffered a severe drop in passengers at the start of
2009 but by the end of the year there were signs that demand was
picking up again. Separately, a special board meeting on Monday
discussed an offer from the country's biggest charter company, Travel
Service, to take over Czech Airlines' charter division. No decision,
apart from a resolution that no airlines would be sold, was taken with
further talks between the two companies planned.
========================================================================
Czech handball player voted best player in German league
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Czech handball player Filip Jicha has been voted the best player in the
German league during 2009 by a local handball magazine. The selection
was made by readers of the weekly Handball Week. The 27-year-old player
for the Kiel club recently stared in the European handball
championships. Jicha was top scorer in spite of the fact that the Czech
national side was only placed eighth, voted best left-back in the
competition and given the title of "most valuable player."
========================================================================
Weather
------------------------------------------------------------------------
It should be cloudy and cold in the next few days, with maximum daytime
temperatures of around -5 degrees Celsius.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Articles posted on www.radio.cz today
------------------------------------------------------------------------
One on One
Hockey expert Martin Hostak: Goalie Tomas Vokoun will be the most
important man in Vancouver
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Martin Hostak is one of Czech TV's most popular hockey co-commentators,
a job he took on after a successful career in Czech hockey, the NHL and
in Sweden's Elitserien. In this edition of One on One, we talk about
his years on the ice, his current TV work as well as Czech hopes for a
medal from the hockey tournament at the upcoming Winter Olympics in
Vancouver. Looking back at the time when he first appeared in the Czech
extraliga in the 1980s, Martin Hostak says the game has completely
changed.
http://www.radio.cz/en/article/124853
Sports News
Sports News 2.8.2010
------------------------------------------------------------------------
In Sports news this week: the Czech women's tennis team beats Germany
to reach the Fed Cup semi-finals; in football, Czechs will face title
holders Spain in the next European 2012 championship qualifications;
goalie Petr Cech contributes to Chelsea's win over city rival Arsenal;
and hockey star Jaromir Jagr returns from Russia fit for the Winter
Olympics in Vancouver.
http://www.radio.cz/en/article/124850
Current Affairs
Dozens take part in polar bear plunge in Prague's Vltava River
------------------------------------------------------------------------
The freezing cold weather in this part of the world has lasted for more
than a month now and most people cannot wait to see temperatures rise.
For the country's hardy men and women however the cold snap has brought
new challenges. On Saturday they gathered on the bank of the Vltava
River for an annual swimming competition called 'Branicke ledy', after
a former ice storage facility located on the riverbank. I went along to
see them in action.
http://www.radio.cz/en/article/124843
Current Affairs
Ukraine election result raises concerns in former eastern bloc
------------------------------------------------------------------------
The result of Ukraine's presidential run-off on Sunday - a slim victory
by opposition leader Viktor Yanukovych - is being seen by some analysts
as an indictment of Ukraine's Orange Revolution of five years ago, at
the very least a political full-circle that will now see the country
move closer towards Russia. That could spell bad news for the EU's
Eastern Partnership programme as well as for regional neighbours such
as Poland or the Czech Republic, long concerned with Russia's growing
regional influence.
http://www.radio.cz/en/article/124832
------------------------------------------------------------------------
This e-mail is sent to you automatically according to the settings you
chose at http://www.radio.cz/en/subscribe. To change the settings, click
here. (C) 2010, Radio Prague - the international service of Czech Radio,
all rights reserved. http://www.radio.cz, E-mail: cr@radio.cz
