News

Czechs mark Liberation Day

Czechs commemorate the end of the Second World War on Wednesday, a public holiday in the Czech Republic. Events marking Liberation Day are held across the country; President Miloš Zeman marked the anniversary at Prague’s Vítkov Hill where a military parade was held. The event was attended by other Czech officials including Prime Minister Petr Nečas, the speaker of the lower house, Miroslava Němcová, the defence minister, the chief of the Czech Army’s general staff, and the head of the Catholic Church, Archbishop Dominik Duka. President Zeman will also appoint new generals of the Czech Army on Wednesday. The Czech Parliament as well as the country’s Foreign Ministry hold an open day on Wednesday, allowing visitors to view the interiors of the buildings.

President Miloš Zeman appoints army generals

Czech President Miloš Zeman appointed five new army generals on Wednesday, on the occasion of Liberation Day. The new generals include the head of the Czech army intelligence service, Karel Kovanda, commander of the army’s joint forces Ján Gurník, commander of the ground forces Ladislav Jung, the rector of the Defence University Bohuslav Přikryl, and chief of the Military Police, Milan Schulc.

Foreign minister criticizes Israeli policies

Czech Foreign Minister Karel Schwarzenberg has criticized Israeli airstrikes on Syria and the country’s settlements plans in the West Bank. In an interview for the news website Times of Israel released on Tuesday night, Mr Schwarzenberg called plans to build settlements in the controversial E1 area “obnoxious”; the Czech foreign minister also said he would nit express support for Israeli airstrikes on weapon convoys in Syria, and never sanction a potential Israeli strike against Iran’s nuclear facilities. Mr Schwarzenberg’s remarks are the first strong criticism of Israeli policies coming from a Czech government minister as the country is considered one of Israel’s major allies within the EU.

Swiss prosecution appreciates Czechs’ change in attitude in MUS case

Switzerland’s Attorney General Michal Lauber has appreciated a change in attitude by the Czech authorities in investigating alleged corruption in the 1998 privatization of the mining company MUS. In an interview for the daily Le Temps on Wednesday, Mr Lauber said that following political changes in early 2012, his office registered a genuine will of the Czech authorities to progress in the case. Until the end of 2011, the Czech Republic did everything to make things more difficult for Swiss prosecution, Mr Lauber said.

Swiss and Czech authorities raised charges of corruption against former managers of the firm; they face accusations that they privatized the firm using money earmarked for environmental projects. A trial against the accused is set to begin in Switzerland on Monday.

T-Mobile posts 14.3-percent EBITDA drop in Q1

T-Mobile, the Czech Republic’s largest mobile phone operator, on Wednesday posted a 14.3-percent annual decrease in its earnings before interest, tax, depreciating and amortization, or EBITDA, in the first quarter of this year. The margin reached 2.65 billion crowns. T-Mobile’s revenues decreased by nearly ten percent while the number of the firm’s clients rose by around 4 percent, and reached 5.6 million. In a statement, the firm said the results reflected trends registered in the previous periods, such as further development of data services, lower average spending by clients as well as higher consumption of telecommunications services.

Rock band Olympic to continue despite drummer’s death

Members of the legendary Czech rock band Olympic have announced the band will continue to play despite the death of their drummer. In a statement released on Facebook on Wednesday, Olympic said they would continue with three members while the drummer will be filled by various musicians. Olympic formed in the late 1960s, and has since released nearly 20 albums. Drummer Milan Peroutka, who joined the band in 1986, died on Sunday at the age of 49.

“Consuming Spirits” wins Czech animated films festival

The US film Consuming Spirits by Chris Sullivan has won the main award at the Anifilm International Festival of Animated Films in Třeboň. The prize for best children’s movie was awarded to the French-Belgian film The Day of the Crows while the animated documentary Father received the award for best short film. The Anifilm festival, which concludes in the south Bohemian town Třeboň on Wednesday, has been held for the third time this year.

Tennis: Berdych through to Madrid Masters’ third round

Czech tennis player Tomáš Berdych defeated Poland’s Jerzy Janowicz 6-7, 6-3, 6-2 at the Madrid Masters on Wednesday to reach the tournament’s third round. The sixth-seeded Czech had a difficult start to the match but made few errors in the second and third set, claiming victory in two hours and 15 minutes. Berdych will next play the winner of a rubber between Kevin Anderson of South Africa and Juan Mónaco of Argentina.

Weather

The next few days will be partially cloudy with occasional rain and storms. Daytime highs should range between 22 and 26 degrees Celsius.