in brief

The August consumer price inflation data released on Wednesday was within the Central Bank's (CNB) expectations and does not constitute a reason to adjust interest rates, news agency CTK quoted a senior central banker as saying. It quoted CNB board member Miroslav Hrncir as saying that the CNB expects only a slight increase in the consumer price index (CPI) in the coming months.
Most of the 515 soldiers of SFOR's 1st Batallion have begun their training at the United Nations Peace Force training base in Český Krumlov, the batallion spokesman Jindřich Plecjer said today. The soldiers are to relieve their colleagues in Bosnia at the end of October.
The international conference of European and Caucasian countries on regional cooperation in the Baltic and Black sea areas is taking place on Friday and Saturday in Jalta. Fourteen heads of states and eight other representatives are expected to attend the two-day summit. The Czech Republic will be represented by Deputy Prime Minister Egon Lánský.
British Ambassador to the Czech Republic David Broucher has not excluded the possibility of requiring Czech tourists to obtain visas before visiting the UK. The requirement would most likely be in response to the large number of Gypsies (Roma)seeking asylum in England. On Tuesday, the British Foreign Office spokesman said that his government was not presently contemplating such a measure, but added that the UK does reserve the right to do so if the situation does not improve.
President Václav Havel has pardoned Agon Durak, a Kosovar regugee. Durak was charged with disturbing the peace, attempted assault and battery, and damaging personal property after an altercation with locals in Olomouc, the spokeswoman of Presidential office, Jana Chalupová, said.
A group of ten Czech police officers leaves for Kosovo on Sept. 27. and will join the international police force in the province. The Czech policemen plan to stay in Kosovo for one year; however, the policemen's salary and all expenses they may incur will be payed for by the UN.
(čtk)