The controversial Czech nuclear power plant Temelin, fiercely opposed by neighbouring Austria, will be brought back on line later this week after a month-long shutdown. The latest shutdown started ahead of planned revisions due to vibrations and a crack on steam piping on Temelin's turbine, in the non-nuclear, power-generating part of the station.
Foreign Minister Jan Kavan is working at getting the job of UN General Assembly chairman in 2002 or 2003, and the probability of him attaining the post, said Foreign Ministry spokesman Ales Pospisil. Mr Kavan has received support for his candidacy from all the countries he asked, the latest being South Africa. The UN General Assembly elects its president from candidates from five groups of countries, with the presidency rotating among the five groups. The current president is a representative of Western Europe. His predecessor was African.
The Czech government has approved a National Employment Plan for this year. Its focal points include support for job creation and re-qualification, protection against illegal employment, improving conditions for small and medium-sized business as well as the development of industrial zones. The plan updates the National Employment Programme adopted in 1999 which specifies tasks for different levels of state administration - from the government to local councils.
The Czech koruna lost ground against the euro on Monday as the single European currency firmed against the dollar. The Czech currency was quoted at 34.62/65 to the euro late on Monday, from 34.57/60 late on Friday, cooling off last week's two-month highs at 34.4. The koruna was at 37.59/62 to the dollar from 37.70/73. The euro firmed against the U.S. currency after the Group of Seven industrialised countries lent weight to expectations the euro zone economy would grow faster than the United States. The Turkish political crisis also sparked demand for the euro.
Bonds dipped. The longest state 6.95/16 off 20 basis points to 102.85/15, yield 6.64/6.61. The state 6.75/05 down 10 points at 102.45/75, yielding 6.04/5.96 percent. The index dips to 98.938 from 99.017 late on Friday. The index of bonds maturing in 3-5 years down to 99.760 from 99.820.
(David Marek)