News

Pilots from the air force base in Caslav helped a Hungarian civilian plane find its way to Poland after it lost contact with air controllers on Monday. The small two-engine Foker was flying from Dresden to Poland and found itself off course over the Frydlant region in north Bohemia. The pilots escorted the plane en route to Poland until it established contact with Polish air traffic controllers.

Tomas Berdych, the world number 12 in tennis, has been named to the Czech team for the Davis Cup World Group first round tie against the United States in Moravia next month. Joining Berdych on captain Jarolsav Navratil's team are Ivo Minar and Pavel Vizner - representing the country for the first time at this level. Lukas Dlouhy, 23, who is 91st in world rankings, and who has competed in just one Davis Cup match, completes the line-up.

Heavy snow and high winds have been causing problems across the Czech Republic. Over two thousand households in the Olomouc region in the easternmost part of the Czech Republic were left without electricity during the night and morning hours as gale force winds brought down power lines. Power cuts were also reported from other parts of the country. Drivers have been warned not to leave for the country's mountain resorts without winter tires and chains. The Jeseniky mountain rescue service has called a high degree of avalanche alert, warning skiers not to leave marked tourist trails.

Czech insurance companies say the damage caused by gale-force winds which swept across the country last week should climb to an estimated 1,5 billion Czech crowns. Close to 50, 000 households and three and a half thousand companies have files damage claims to date. The inclement weather in the mountain regions is reportedly slowing down the work of insurance companies in checking out claims but they say there are prepared to meet their obligations fully.