News

Czechs to decide Monday on response to North Korean embassy evacuation suggestion

The Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs is to decide on Monday how to respond to a warning from the North Korean authorities on Friday that embassies in Pyongyang should consider evacuating their employees in view of current tensions with South Korea. While no foreign embassies have to date announced plans to evacuate, a Czech Foreign Ministry official said on Sunday that it had been monitoring the situation over the weekend with a view to deciding on a course of action. The Czech Republic closed its embassy in Pyongyang in 1993 and reopened it in 2004, when Czech diplomats offered North Korea help in overcoming its international isolation.

Five hundred call for resignation of government at Prague protest

Around 500 people took part in an anti-government demonstration on Prague’s Wenceslas Square on Sunday. The protest was organised by the south-Moravia based Holešovská výzva (Holešov Appeal), an umbrella group formed about a year ago that demands the resignation of the coalition government of Petr Nečas and other changes. They named their demonstration Twilight of the Godfathers, indicating their wish to see the end of alleged mafia involvement in Czech politics.

Social affairs minister warns of shortfall in welfare budget

The minister of labour and social affairs, Ludmila Müllerová, says her ministry will this year lack billions of crowns needed for social welfare payments. Speaking on a TV debate show on Sunday, she said she would ask the Ministry of Finance for increased funding. However, the minister of finance, Miroslav Kalousek (who is also from the TOP 09 party), said he could find no extra money for the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs. Mr. Kalousek said Ms. Müllerová would have to find the money needed within her own department, which receives the greatest amount for outlays of any ministry.

Official: Number of poor ghettos in Czech Republic growing

The number of apartment buildings and districts inhabited by the poor in the Czech Republic is on the rise, the Czech News Agency quoted the head of the government’s social integration agency, Martin Šimáček, as saying on Sunday. While there were an estimated 330 ghettos in the country in 2006 and 400 in 2011, that number is now higher, said Mr. Šimáček, adding, however, that precise figures will not be available until next year. He said many poor people have been forced to move from apartments to hostel-style accommodation due to indebtedness.

Defending champions Czech Republic reach Davis Cup semi-finals

The Czech Republic have reached the semi-finals of the Davis Cup after opening up an unassailable 3:1 lead over Kazakhstan in Astana. The Czech team – without the country’s men’s number one, Tomáš Berdych – won the first two singles rubbers on Friday before losing in Saturday’s doubles to allow the hosts back into the tie. However, Lukáš Rosol calmed Czech nerves by beating Evgeny Korolev 7-6 6-7 7-6 6-2 on Sunday. The Czech Republic are the defending Davis Cup champions after taking the trophy in Prague at the end of last year, while the country also holds the Fed Cup.

Plzeň remain at top of Czech league on goal difference after win over Teplice

Viktoria Plzeň are still heading Czech soccer’s first division after a 2:1 home win over relegation-threatened Teplice on Sunday. Plzeň are only ahead of rivals Sparta Prague, who also have 47 points after 22 games played, thanks to a goal difference of two. Sparta beat Olomouc 3:0 away on Saturday.

Cold spell coming to end, say forecasters

The wintery weather the Czech Republic has been experiencing lately is evidently coming to an end, with temperatures set to gradually increase. The Czech Hydro-meteorological Institute said in its regular monthly forecast that the average daily temperature over the next four weeks should get close to 9.4 degrees Celsius, which is the norm for the time of year. The third week of April should be the warmest of the month.

Weather

It should be cloudy with some sunny spells in the next couple of days. Temperatures are expected to reach a maximum of 12 degrees Celsius.