About 100,000 people crowded on the Wenceslav Square in Prague yesterday to support the strike of rebel news team at the Czech Television.
The Czech government approved changes to media laws to limit political influence over public television. Candidates to the TV Council should no longer be nominated by political parties.
The government approved a proposal to give domestic companies preference for public procurement contracts. This measure could be valid until the Czech Republic joins the EU because it is not consistent with “acqui communitaire”.
The Czech government investment promotion office Czechinvest announced on Wednesday it had attracted USD1.5 billion in foreign direct investment into the Czech Republic last year through its projects. The agency expects to attract another USD1 billion in foreign investment this year.
The Czech koruna finished almost unchanged against the euro yesterday, recovering from early losses, but remained near its weakest level since October. The koruna closed unchanged from Tuesday's 35.20 to the euro after dropping as low as 35.30, and at 37.28 to the dollar, sliding from 37.09 on Tuesday.
Bonds firmed yesterday. The longest state 6.40/10 up 45 points at 95.90/96.20 from Tuesday's 95.45/75, yielding 7.01/6.96 percent. The government 6.75/05 was flat at 100.50/80, yielding 6.60/52.
(David Marek)