News

President says Czech Republic could join euro zone over next five years

Czech President Miloš Zeman told a German regional daily Passauer Neue Presse in an interview published on Saturday that he imagined the Czech Republic could adopt the European currency and join the euro zone within the next five years. The position is a departure from that of his predecessor Václav Klaus. In the interview, the president also said he was against Turkey’s joining the EU; by contrast, he suggested that Russia could join over the next 20 years. Discussing EU foreign policy priorities, Mr Zeman stressed the importance of combating terrorism (including Islamic terrorism), an area where he would like to see the Czech Republic play a greater part.

PM to travel to Russia in May

Czech Prime Minister Petr Nečas will travel to Russia in late May to meet with his counterpart Dmitry Medvedev. The prime minister, his spokesman said, would be accompanied by a delegation of Czech business leaders and representatives. Mr Medvedev, then-president of Russia, met Mr Nečas in Prague in December 2011. Topics they discussed included the planned expansion of the Temelín nuclear power plant, south Bohemia. One of the bidders in the giant Temelín tender, launched by the plant’s operator, the state-owned ČEZ energy utility, is a Russian-Czech consortium led by Russia’s Rosatom.

During Medvedev’s Prague visit in late 2011, contracts worth 2.15 billion euros were signed, including a contract for the construction of a railway route in the Urals and a contract with the Alvel company for supplies of nuclear fuel to the Czech Republic. Czech-Russian trade turnover has increased in the past years. According to estimates from September 2012, it exceeded six billion US dollars last year for the first time.

US State Dept. reports criticizes country for poor treatment of Roma

The US State Department, in its annual human rights report, criticised the Czech Republic for poor conditions suffered by ethnic Romanies, often socially-excluded and pushed to the periphery. The report maintains, similarly to previous years, that efforts by the government to try and improve the situation have been insufficient. Other problems highlighted in the report, concerning the Czech Republic, include corruption, prison overcrowding, domestic violence, and anti-Semitism.

Rafter in intensive care after almost drowning in white water

Individuals and colleagues made every effort on Saturday afternoon to save the life of a friend who almost drowned as they were rafting on the Kamenice River. The man went under after their raft flipped in whitewater; he had to be pulled to shore where colleagues began resuscitation. Although they were able to restore his breathing, the rafter remained unconscious and had to be transported through difficult terrain to nearby train tracks where he was first taken by rail, then ambulance and finally by helicopter to hospital where he remains in intensive care.

Two thousand take part in spring bike ride

Around two thousand cyclists gathered in Prague on Saturday afternoon to take part in a ride aimed at promoting biking in the city and emphasizing the need for improving infrastructure in the capital. Riders did an 11-kilometre circuit, beginning in Prague’s Vinohrady. Some riders sported costumes, others boasted unusual bikes, one of them rebuilt in the style of an American “chopper”.

Alice Cooper, other rock legends to perform in Czech Republic

Fans of classic and hard rock will have the opportunity to see several big names in the capital as well as south Moravia through the course of the spring and summer this year. Promoters revealed to the Czech news agency that acts coming to the Czech Republic included rock legends such as Alice Cooper, Deep Purple and Uriah Heep. Cooper, famous for stage makeup and horror elements in his shows, will perform at Brno’s Kajot Arena for the first time in five years.

Fed Cup semifinal: Italy 2 Czech Republic 1 after rain delays

The women’s tennis team, the defending champions from last year, trails 2:1 against Italy in the Fed Cup semifinal. On Saturday, Lucie Šafářová lost in straight sets to Sara Errani (4:6, 2:6) while the Czech women’s No 1. Petra Kvitová came up short against Roberta Vinci (4:6, 1:6).

On Sunday, Kvitová faced Errani in a match that at first was delayed by rain. Kvitová won it in three sets 2:6, 6:2, 6:0. The rest of the semifinal will be played on Monday.

Fans gear up for deciding game of Extraliga hockey final

clubs Zlín and Plzeň will face-off on Sunday evening in a deciding seventh game in the Extraliga playoff finals. The match will begin shortly after 6pm local time. Zlín, who had their backs against the wall in the series, forced a game seven by winning their last encounter decisively by a score of 5:2.

Weather

Mostly clear skies, cloudy with a chance of showers in places, are expected at the beginning of the week. Daytime temperatures should reach highs of around 20 degrees Celsius.