News

Prague astronomical clock to be stopped for repairs

The astronomical clock at Prague’s Old Town Square will be stopped on Monday for three weeks due to repairs to the tower. Workers will be redoing the plaster on the tower of the Old Town Hall, which has problems with dampness and affects the machine and dust from the work would otherwise damage the clock. The work is expected to be completed and the clock reset on April 24. One of the many legends around the astronomical clock says that catastrophe awaits if the machine is stopped. Fortunately, three previous repairs in the last 20 years have seen so such problem.

Civic Democrats want association of regional shadow governors

The Civic Democratic Party wants to create an association of regional shadow governors to oppose the association of governors. The chairman of the South Bohemian Civic Democrats, Martin Kuba, told reporters at a regional part conference on Saturday that the latter association, comprised of Social Democrat governors, is overly politicised. The Civic Democrat association should consist of ballot leaders in regional elections next year. Chairman of the association of governors Michal Hašek called the idea is an attempt to draw attention away from the government’s problems.

Artists protest conditions for street performers in Prague

Roughly 200 artists have held a demonstration in Prague to protest the city’s conditions for street performers. A march of musicians, jugglers, mimes and others began at Náměstí Republiky and continued over Charles Bridge to Kampa. The artists complain that Prague is generally intolerant towards street performers, that there are very few localities where they can legally perform and that they wait for weeks for permits. The organisers say they are in talks with City Hall to propose new legislation.

Kalousek: TOP 09 will stay out of ProMoPro affair.

Finance Minister Miroslav Kalousek says that his TOP 09 party will respect the wishes of the coalition leader, the Civic Democrats, and will refrain from further commenting on the ProMoPro scandal involving Defence Minister Alexandr Vondra. Mr Kalousek said Thursday evening that Mr Vondra’s case was the responsibility of the Civic Democratic Party and that his party would not take part in any parliamentary meeting convened by the opposition on the matter. Last week the opposition indeed sought such a meeting, which the coalition staved off with the promise that Mr Vondra would explain his part in the affair and apologize. His speech however fell short of a full apology and Mr Kalousek and others in TOP 09 called for his resignation. The audiovisual company ProMoPro was paid exorbitant sums from Mr Vondra’s office during the 2009 Czech EU presidency.

18th Febiofest ends

Prague’s international film festival Febiofest wraps up its 18th year on Friday evening. This year’s festival included 190 films from 56 countries. The winner of the New Europe competition went to director Marcina Wrona for his film “Chrzest”, which is one of the most acclaimed Polish films of this year. Present at the closing ceremony will by Australian director Peter Weir, who will receive the Kristián award for lifetime contribution to international cinema. This year’s festival included a number of venues where films are not usually screened, such as Prague Airport’s Terminal 2, where a series of films on airplanes and airports were shown.

Nuclear power plant shuts block to fix air leak

The Dukovany nuclear power plant is shutting down its fourth block on Friday to repair a ventilation leak. The plant says that then leak was found on Thursday during an inspection of the measuring instruments; the leak it says poses no danger of any kind. How long the shutdown will last will be known on Sunday. A similar leak and repair shutdown occurred at the plant 20 years ago.

Czechs’ life expectancy slightly below EU average

The life expectancy for Czechs is lower than the EU average according to demographic data published on Friday. The average Czech woman born in 2009 is expected to reach 80.5 years of age while a man should reach 74.3. Both numbers are about two years less than the EU average, a some five years less than Sweden and France. The statistics also point out that the average life expectancy is rising, particularly in former communist states. The average life expectancy in the EU has risen by roughly ten years over the last half century.

Weather

Conditions are expected to be warm and sunny over the weekend with highs up 22° Celsius.