• The Czech who went missing in Libya may be in the hands of Islamic State militants, according to information released by the Austrian Foreign Ministry.
    03/09/2015

    The group of foreign workers, among them one Czech, who went missing after an attack on a Libyan oil field are being held hostage by Islamic State militants, the APA news agency reported on Monday, citing the Austrian Foreign Ministry. The Czech Foreign Ministry which is cooperating closely with Austria on the case has sent two envoys to the region. Foreign Minister Lubomír Zaorálek said on Monday that by all accounts the Czech national was being held hostage, but gave no further details. Both countries’ governments have assembled crisis groups to deal with the situation.
    Author: Ruth Fraňková

  • Flu epidemic over
    03/09/2015

    The flu epidemic which killed 41 people in the Czech Republic this year is reported to be over. According to the health authorities the number of infected patients is well below the threshold of an epidemic in all regions. Hospitals and old people’s homes have lifted bans on visiting and the regional health authorities will stop issuing regular updates on the number of infected. Doctors say this year’s flu strain was particularly aggressive and vaccination proved only partially effective.
    Author: Daniela Lazarová

  • Paul Simon and Sting concert in Prague postponed
    03/09/2015

    The Paul Simon and Sting concert at Prague’s O2 Arena scheduled for March 14 has been postponed, the agency Live Nation announced on Monday. According to the organizers Sting is reported to be confined to him home in New York with a bad flu. The concert in Krakow scheduled for this week has also had to be postponed. Fans have been advised to hold on to their tickets until new concert dates have been set.
    Author: Daniela Lazarová

  • Czech unemployment rate in February at 7.5 percent
    03/09/2015

    The Czech unemployment rate was at 7.5 percent in February down from January´s 7.7 percent, the Czech Labour Office reported on Monday. The number of job seekers reached 548,117 while the number of vacancies increased slightly 68,971. Last February the unemployment rate was at 8.6 percent.
    Author: Daniela Lazarová

  • Sáblíková wins World Allround Speed Skating Championship
    03/09/2015

    Czech speed skater Martina Sáblíková was crowned the World Allround Speed skating Champion in Calgary, Canada, on Sunday. The long-distance specialist won the women’s final 5000-metre race in six minutes, 51seconds. It is the third career world title in the ladies’ tournament for the Czech speed skater; she previously won the championship in 2009 and 2010. Sáblíková’s biggest rival Ireen Wüst of the Netherlands finished second and Norway’s Ida Njåtun took the bronze.
    Author: Ruth Fraňková

  • Two Czech diplomats to coordinate search for missing Czech in Libya
    03/08/2015

    The government emergency team met again on Sunday to discuss the case of the Czech citizen, who went missing after the attack on an oil field in Libya. Islamic State supporters on Friday attacked the al-Ghani oil field in southern Libya, killing 11 local guards and taking at least seven foreign workers hostage, including an Austrian and Czech citizen. Two Czech diplomats appointed by Foreign Minister Lubomír Zaorálek will be heading to Libya to coordinate the search; one is to leave by Sunday evening and the other one within the next 48 hours. The Czech cabinet is set to discuss the situation on Monday.
    Author: Ruth Fraňková

  • Some 300,000 gun owners registered in the Czech Republic
    03/08/2015

    There are some 300,000 registered gun-owners in the Czech Republic and altogether, they own around 750,000 guns, according to the police statistics published by the Czech TV on Sunday. In reaction to last month's shooting incident in Uherský Brod, which left nine people dead, the goverment is currently considering tightening the criteria for issuing firearms licenses. So far, permit holders are required to pass a theoretical and practical test, as well as a medical check-up. Some 75 percent of applicants pass the test on average.
    Author: Ruth Fraňková

  • Runner Jakub Holuša secures second Czech gold at European championships
    03/08/2015

    Czech runner Jakub Holuša secured second gold for the Czech Republic at the European Athletics Indoor Championships, after winning men's 1500 metres final on Sunday. Holuša overcame leading Ilham Tanuie Özbilen of Turkey in the finish, setting a new Czech record with the time of 3:37.68 minutes. Great Britain's Chris O'Hare finished in the third place.
    Author: Ruth Fraňková

  • Davis Cup: Czech Republic lost 1-3 to Australia
    03/08/2015

    The Czech Republic has lost 1:3 to Australia in the first round of the Davis Cup. Czech Lukáš Rosol was beaten on Sunday at Ostrava's CEZ Arena by Australia's Bernard Tomic 6:7 (4), 3:6, 6:7 (5). The only win for the Czech Republic was secured in Saturday's doubles by Adam Pavlásek and Jiří Veselý. After fours years Czech tennis players will have to fight for staying in the elite World Group.
    Author: Ruth Fraňková

  • Cross-country skier Řezáč takes bronze at Vasaloppet
    03/08/2015

    Marathon cross-country skier Stanislav Řezáč won the bronze medal at the traditional 90km Vasaloppet race in Sweden on Sunday. The 41-year-old Řezáč managed to keep with the lead group of skiers, but lost his strength in the final two kilometres. Norway's Petter Eliassen took the win, finishing ahead of his compatriot Anders Aukland. It was the 17th start at the Vasaloppet for Řezáč, who won a total of six medals over the years. Another Czech, Adéla Boudíková, finished eleventh, securing the best result for Czech women skiers in the history of the race.
    Author: Ruth Fraňková

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