News

Czech scientists, in cooperation with colleagues from the University of California, Santa Barbara, have discovered how the bacteria that cause Whooping Cough attach to the human respiratory tract.

Researchers from the Institute of Microbiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences found the bacteria produce a special protein that allows them to cling firmly to the airways and evade the body’s natural defences. The findings were published in the journal Science.

The discovery comes as Czechia approaches 70 years since regular vaccination against whooping cough began in 1958. The country also saw a major outbreak two years ago, when more than 37,000 cases were reported.

Czech tennis player Kateřina Siniaková defeated defending champion Mirra Andreeva 4-6, 7-6, 6-3 at Indian Wells Open, reaching the tournament’s round of 16 for the first time in her career. The nearly three-hour battle in the California desert saw Siniaková recover after losing the first set and edge a tight tiebreak before sealing the match in the third.

She will next face Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina for a place in the quarterfinals. Kateřina Siniaková has lost all four of their previous meetings and is still looking for her first win in the matchup.

Consumer prices in Czechia rose by 1.4 percent year on year in February, slowing from 1.6 percent in January and marking the lowest inflation rate since October 2016, the Czech Statistics Office said on Tuesday, confirming its preliminary estimate. Prices fell slightly month on month, mainly due to cheaper food and non-alcoholic beverages.

Upward pressure on prices came mainly from alcohol and tobacco as well as accommodation, restaurants and housing costs. Energy and fuel prices, however, declined compared with a year ago, while services overall continued to become more expensive.

The conflict in the Middle East should not overshadow the war in Ukraine, Latvian President Edgars Rinkēvičs said on Tuesday after a meeting with Czech President Petr Pavel in Riga. According to Rinkēvičs, Latvia and Czechia share a similar view of the situation in the region.

According to the Czech head of state, the Middle East conflict will have a direct impact on Europe and that European countries should discuss its consequences and seek a common approach.

The two leaders also discussed continued support for Ukraine, which has been facing Russia’s invasion for more than four years. Rinkēvičs praised Czech participation in the NATO mission in Latvia and the Czech initiative to supply ammunition to Ukraine.

Economic cooperation was also on the agenda, with opportunities for Czech companies mainly in security, defence and transport.

Pavel, who arrived in Latvia on Monday, will also meet Prime Minister Evika Siliņa. He is scheduled to open a Latvian-Czech business forum, visit parliament, lay flowers at the Freedom Monument and tour the Museum of the Occupation of Latvia.