News

The Czech Republic drew 0:0 with Italy in a soccer World Cup qualification game in Prague on Friday night. The Czechs played relatively well but were left to regret a number of unconverted chances and failing to capitalise on numerical advantage following the sending off on 71 minutes of Italy’s Mario Balotelli. The result further reduces the Michal Bílek’s chances of reaching the competition, which takes place in Brazil next year.

Local authorities in the Czech Republic have been told to keep flood defences in place as more rain is expected in the coming days. The order comes six days after a wave of flooding began in the country. Some people who were evacuated earlier in the week are returning to their homes, while many municipalities have begun cleanup operations and assessing the cost of the damage. However, thousands of people remain without electricity and states of alert are still in force in around a dozen places in Bohemia. Meanwhile, the number of deaths related to the floods has risen to 10.

Prague Zoo is to build a new gorilla enclosure at a higher altitude than the current one. Zoo officials reached agreement on the project with the acting mayor of Prague, Tomáš Hudeček, on Friday. Over 1,000 animals were moved from the lower part of the zoo ahead of floods this week. It was devastated by a deluge in 2002 that saw more than 100 animals die. The damage caused this week has been put at CZK 100 million, down from a previous estimate of CZK 160 million.

Prague’s Museum Night, which was scheduled to take place on Saturday, has been postponed because of the recent flood situation. The event, in which museums and some galleries stay open late and offer free admission, is likely to now be held in September. The Respect festival of world music, which takes place on June 15 and 16, has been moved from its usual venue on Štvanice Island to Prague’s Ladronka. And a benefit concert for the devastated Jazz Dock club has been organised for Tuesday at Lucerna Music Bar.