Czech Republic

Listen to this BosNewsLife story via Vatican Radio. Click BosNewsLifeRadioCzechChurches By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent BosNewsLife PRAGUE/BUDAPEST (BosNewsLife)-- The Czech Parliament has approved a plan to return billions of dollars in church properties that were confiscated by the previous Communist regime. The Catholic Church in the Czech Republic has welcomed the deal, after years of negotiations.

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent BosNewsLife PRAGUE/BUDAPEST (BosNewsLife)-- The Czech Republic's Foreign Ministry says a Czech Christian who was sentenced to a stiff prison term in Sudan last month has been released and returned home late Sunday, February 26, with the Czech Foreign minister. The release of Petr Jašek followed international pressure.

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent BosNewsLife reporting from BosNewsLife News Center in Budapest BUDAPEST/PRAGUE (BosNewsLife)-- The lower house of the Czech Republic's parliament narrowly approved a government plan late Friday, July 13, to return property seized from churches during the 1948-1989 Communist era, and to pay billions of dollars in compensation.

By BosNewsLife News Center with reporting by BosNewsLife's Stefan J. Bos PRAGUE/BUDAPEST (BosNewsLife)-- The mortal remains of Czech Cardinal Miloslav Vlk, a devoted believer who washed windows and ministered underground during communism, were placed in a tomb at St Vitus’ Cathedral in Prague Saturday, March 25, following a funeral service.

Listen to the shorter BosNewsLife News version via Vatican Radio:  By BosNewsLife News Center with reporting by BosNewsLife's Stefan J. Bos BABICE/BUDAPEST (BosNewsLife)-- A bust has been unveiled in the Czech Republic to Catholic priest Václav Drbola, who was executed by the previous Communist regime. The ceremony comes amid efforts by the Catholic Church to overcome the recent wounds of history.

Listen to BosNewsLife News via the Voice of America BosNewsLife2ndUpdate  By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent BosNewsLife PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC (BosNewsLife)-- Official results show former leftist prime minister Milos Zeman has won the first round of the Czech Republic's first direct presidential vote since the breakup of Czechoslovakia in 1993.  Zeman, however, faces tough competition in a second round to replace the euro-skeptic Vaclav Klaus.

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent BosNewsLife

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent BosNewsLife BUDAPEST/PRAGUE (BosNewsLife)-- Official results from the Czech Republic's general election indicate a left-leaning Social Democrats party narrowly won the country's general election. The Social Democrats received less votes than expected, prompting its leader to resign. Analysts say that despite the victory, the country appears headed to a center right government.

Listen to this shorter BosNewsLife News report via Vatican Radio:   By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Bosnewslife PRAGUE/BUDAPEST (BosNewsLife)-- Authorities in parts of Central and Eastern Europe have issued disaster warnings as heavy rain has caused flooding that left several people dead or missing. The situation seemed especially serious in the Czech Republic where Prime Minister Petr Necas said already "200 soldiers have been deployed so far" to help local authorities in the capital Prague and other areas.

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent BosNewsLife BUDAPEST, HUNGARY (BosNewsLife)-- About 1,000 people, many of them elderly Holocaust survivors, braved winter temperatures Saturday, February 13, to express concern about the rising far right groups in Hungary.