News

Saturday marks 90th anniversary of historic first broadcast by Czech(oslovak) Radio

Saturday is the 90th anniversary of the first regular broadcast by Czechoslovak, later Czech, Radio. An open day with free guided tours was held at the station’s back-to-back buildings on Vinohradská and Římská streets in central Prague from 9:00 to 17:00 as part of a series of events held to mark the moment at 20:15 on May 18, 1923 when the station launched regular broadcasts from a tent in the city’s Kbely district. Czech Radio’s flagship station Radiožurnál is set to interview 90 special guests in a special broadcast live from Wenceslas Square that begins at 20:15 on Saturday and runs for 48 hours.

Politicians across spectrum criticise Zeman for refusal to make academic professor

Politicians from across the political spectrum have criticised President Miloš Zeman’s refusal to name academic Martin C. Putna professor. Mr. Zeman has refused to explain his opposition to conferring the title on Mr. Putna, who opposed his candidacy for president. The leader of the president’s own former party the Social Democrats, Bohuslav Sobotka, said the liberal Miloš Zeman of 1989 would not have understood the position of the Miloš Zeman of 2013. Foreign Minister Karel Schwarzenberg of TOP 09, who ran against Mr. Zeman for head of state, said his actions were the continuation of the policies of the Nazi protectorate and Communist leader Klement Gottwald.

Abbot praises Zeman’s position over Putna

Meanwhile, the abbot of Strahov Monastery in Prague, Michael Josef Pojezdný, has praised Mr. Zeman for refusing to appoint Mr. Putna, who is a practising Roman Catholic, professor. However, it is unclear why the abbot – who reportedly made the comments during a meeting with Mr. Zeman on another matter – has backed the president, as he has refused to speak to the media. This has led to speculation that it may be because of Mr. Putna’s liberal politics or the fact that he is openly homosexual. Academics have also been up in arms, with the rector of Prague’s Charles University, Václav Hampl, saying that Mr. Zeman would need to have very serious reasons for not naming Mr. Putna professor; otherwise the move would represent an unacceptable intervention.

PM criticises make-up of new academic council of agency overseeing Communist-era files

Prime Minister Petr Nečas has criticised the composition of the freshly appointed academic council of the Institute for the Study of Totalitarian Regimes. The leader of the right-wing Civic Democrats says it includes former long-term members of the Communist Party and opponents of the very creation of the institution, which oversees secret police files and other documents from the Communist era. The previous academic council stood down in protest at the dismissal of the state agency’s director by its now left-controlled board. Critics of the former management of the Institute say it should explore the broader history of the Communist period and not just focus on the security services.

Institutions offer reduced admission on International Museum Day

Museums and public galleries around the Czech Republic offered discounted admissions on Saturday as part of International Museum Day. Many also put on workshops for children and guided tours, while some opened spaces normally closed to the public. A number of institutions, such as the City of Prague Museum and the capital’s National Museum, offered completely free admission. Museum Night events, when museums keep their doors open until the small hours, are being held in Brno; in the coming weeks other cities and towns are set to take part in the project, which culminates with a Prague Museum Night on June 8.

US conductor Maazel appears at Prague Spring for first time in 43 years

The great American conductor Lorin Maazel helmed the Munich Philharmonic Orchestra at a sold-out Smetana Hall of Prague’s Obecni Dum on Friday night in what was his first appearance at the Prague Spring international music festival for 43 years. Maazel, who is 83, has been one of the world’s leading conductors for the last five decades. This year’s Prague Spring features more than 30 concerts and three opera performances. It runs until June 2.

Jablonec beat Mladá Boleslav on penalties to lift Czech cup

Jablonec have lifted the Česká Pošta Cup, Czech domestic soccer’s main cup competition, after defeating Mladá Boleslav on penalties. The sides were tied at 2:2 after extra time on Friday night, with Jablonec – who had lost in their previous three cup finals – running out 5:4 winners in the subsequent penalty shootout. As in a number of European countries, winning the cup is considerably less prestigious in the Czech Republic than taking the league title.

Weather

It should be fair with the chance of rain or storms in the next couple of days. Temperatures are expected to reach a maximum of 26 degrees Celsius.