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Nečas: US facility on Czech territory to be part of NATO defence system

An "early warning centre" that the US is aiming to build on Czech territory would be part of a NATO missile defence system, Czech Prime Minister Petr Nečas said on Friday. Washington and Prague are discussing the creation of such a facility, which Mr Nečas said would be run by Czechs, doing away with the need for a bilateral treaty. He said it would collate satellite information about rockets aimed at NATO states, and would be more technical and administrative than military in nature. Mr Nečas said the US was proposing to put around USD 2 million into the project in 2011 and 2012.

President Barack Obama last year announced the dropping of plans for an American anti-missile shield that would have included a radar base in the Czech Republic.

EU court rules in favour of Czech brewer in “Budweiser” dispute

The European Court of Justice has ruled that Anheuser-Busch InBev may not register “Budweiser” as an EU-wide trademark, ending a long legal dispute with the Czech state-owned brewer Budějovický Budvar. Anheuser-Busch applied for trademark registration in the EU in 1996, but was opposed by Budvar, which already had protection for its own Budweiser beer in Germany and Austria. Thursday’s ruling upheld a previous decision by Europe’s second highest court last year. It does not prevent Anheuser-Busch from registering the name Budweiser in individual markets. The two sides have been fighting over the brand name in courts around the world for decades.

Budweiser means from Budweis, the German name for the city of České Budějovicke, which has a brewing tradition stretching back to the 13th century. Anheuser-Busch began making its own Budweiser in 1876.

Communist symbol to remain on Brno war memorial after all

The authorities in Brno are to leave a controversial communist symbol on a monument after preservationists objected to its removal. Some local people had voiced opposition to a hammer and sickle on a monument in the city’s Královo Pole district in honour of the Red Army soldiers who liberated the region at the end of the war, and earlier this year councillors voted to remove it. However, the National Monuments Institute has recommended that the communist symbol remain in place, and the Brno Town Hall is expected to respect that suggestion.

Government meeting to be interrupted for funeral of Mašín group member Paumer

A meeting of the Czech government planned for next Wednesday will be interrupted for three and a half hours because of the funeral of Milan Paumer, a member of a controversial group who shot their way across the Iron Curtain in the 1950s. It is not clear whether any cabinet members will attend the ceremony in Poděbrady, but both Prime Minister Petr Nečas and Defence Minister Alexandr Vondra have said they may do so. Mr Paumer was part of what became known as the Mašín group after the two brothers that led it. Some regard them as heroes for fighting the Communists, though others condemn them for killing a number of people.

Half of Czech customers now buy electronic goods on internet, suggests survey

Half of Czech customers now buy electronic goods on the internet, suggests a report by the Incoma GfK market research agency. Of those surveyed, 35 percent said they had bought computers and accessories online in the previous 12-month period, 20 percent had bought household appliances, and 14 percent had bought other consumer electronics. An industry body said that while Czechs had spent an estimated CZK 22 billion shopping online in 2008, last year that figure had risen to CZK 26 or 27 billion.

Potato salad causes dysentery outbreak in České Budějovicke

An outbreak of dysentery has been reported in České Budějovicke. Around 50 people probably caught the intestinal disorder from a batch of potato salad at a canteen in the city last Friday, local hygiene officials said. An epidemiologist told reporters it was the biggest single incidence of dysentery in the city in some years, though it did not amount to an epidemic. Infected persons have been forced to stay off work and their children have been forbidden from going to traditional summer camps.

Špotáková takes bronze in women’s javelin in Barcelona

Barbora Špotáková finished third in the women’s javelin at the European Athletics Championships on Thursday evening, taking the Czech team’s first medal in Barcelona. Špotáková finished behind two German competitors with a throw of 65.36 metres. The Czech athlete is the reigning Olympic champion in the women’s javelin, and holds the world record in the discipline.

Viktoria Plzeň score best result of three Czech clubs in Europa League qualifiers

Viktoria Plzeň drew 1:1 at home with the Turkish club Besiktas in their Europa League third qualifying round first leg on Thursday night. The Czech side went 1:1 ahead before the visitors managed to draw even with a penalty. In the same competition, Jablonec lost 1:0 away to APOEL Nicosia, while Baník Ostrava were beaten 1:0 by Dnepr Mogilev in Belarus.

Sparta’s Řepka suspended over alleged spitting incident

Sparta Prague player Tomáš Řepka has been suspended over allegations he spat at an opponent during a game. Řepka has been barred from taking part in a league match against České Budějovice on Sunday, prior to a Czech football association disciplinary hearing next week. Sparta are reported to have already handed the defender an unspecified punishment for spitting at Ladislav Volešák of Slovácko in a game last weekend. Řepka, who is 36, is known for having a short fuse and an uncompromising style of play.

Prague island hosts fashion market

Prague’s Střelecký ostrov has become the unlikely venue for an outdoor fashion market. For three days the island, which can be reached via the most Legií bridge, will be home to around 80 stalls selling clothing and accessories made by students and graduates of fashion and design. Code:Mode also features a circus arts workshop and live music.

Weather

It should be mainly sunny with occasional rain over the next few days. Forecasters say temperatures will reach a maximum of 29 degrees Celsius.