News

Over 10,000 requests for land restitution lodged by churches to date

Churches in the Czech Republic have requested the return of almost 10,500 pieces of land under restitution legislation. According to data posted on the website of the State Lands Office, Roman Catholic parishes in Bohemia and Moravia had requested the return of some 3,600 parcels of land by Thursday last week. The minister of agriculture, Miroslav Toman, recently announced that the agency would publish information on such requests on a weekly basis. Last year, Parliament approved a long-discussed and divisive bill under which land and property nationalised by the Communist regime worth CZK 75 billion would be returned to various churches; a further CZK 59 billion will be paid to them over a 30-year period.

Police freeze some accounts belonging to suspect in asset-stripping case

The police’s anti-corruption unit have frozen bank accounts belonging to one of the Czech Republic’s richest men, Pavel Tykač. Lidové noviny reported on Saturday that officers had uncovered and blocked over CZK 102 million in his accounts earlier this month. Mr. Tykač, who owns the mining concern Czech Coal, is being prosecuted for fraud in connection with the alleged asset-stripping of another company, CS Fondy, to the tune of almost CZK 350 million. In March, Swiss prosecutors froze a tonne of gold and several bank accounts belonging to the businessman. The magazine Respekt wrote that the Swiss authorities had done so as Mr. Tykač was being investigated in the Czech Republic over the alleged tunnelling of CS Fondy; it added that he was also a suspect in the asset-stripping of Mostecká uhelná společnost, which is being investigated by Swiss police. Forbes magazine puts his fortune at CZK 33 billion.

Students from around world gather for Summer School of Slavonic Studies

Around 150 students of the Czech language from around the world have gathered in Prague for the Summer School of Slavonic Studies. The course, which is being held for the 57th time this year, is organised by the Institute of Czech Studies at the Arts Faculty of Charles University. Alongside language classes, it includes cultural events and day trips. An accompanying symposium entitled The Czech Language in the World and the World in the Czech Language will be attended by around four dozen leading Czech studies experts from around the globe.

Hejnová continues unbeaten run and sets new Czech record in 400m hurdles

Athlete Zuzana Hejnová set a new Czech record in the women’s 400 metre hurdles at London’s Olympic Stadium on Friday night. Hejnová achieved a time of 53:07 seconds, breaking a record she herself had set, as she finished first at a Diamond League meeting in the British capital. The Czech, who took bronze in the 400m hurdles at last summer’s Olympics, has won all eight of the races she has taken part in this year.

Sparta apologise to fans after early European exit

The management of Sparta Prague have apologised to fans after the club’s surprise exit in the qualifying rounds of European soccer’s second-tier competition, the Europa League. The Czech club’s season ended at international level on Thursday night when they were beaten 1:0 away by the Swedish side Häcken, who achieved a 3:2 aggregate win. Sparta’s management said on Friday that some changes would be announced in the second half of August, after a period of consideration.

Heat leads to smog alert in Prague and Central Bohemia

Meteorologists have declared a smog alert in Prague and Central Bohemia on Saturday. The smog has been caused by a high concentration of tropospheric ozone linked to the current very hot weather. Those with chronic breathing problems, the elderly and small children should avoid strenuous activities outdoors during the hottest parts of the day, though other people have nothing to be concerned about, forecasters said.

Hot weather set to continue

The hot weather which the Czech Republic has experienced since last week is set to continue. According to a monthly forecast issued by the Czech Hydro-Meteorological Institute on Saturday, temperatures in the period between July 29 and August 25 should be above average, while the coming week will almost certain see above thermometers recording relatively high values for the time of year. The forecasters say that rainfall levels will be average or below average in the next month.

Weather

It should be mainly sunny in the coming days with temperatures of up to 37 degrees expected.