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The H1N1 swine flu virus has claimed another ten lives over the course of the last week according to the Health Ministry. The ministry now records 77 people as having died of the illness since October. The majority of the deceased suffered from another serious illness, with only one in ten had no other diagnosis. The flu has been confirmed in 2308 cases; experts believe the actual number of infections to be much higher. The state is currently providing an H1N1 vaccine to high-risk groups free of charge.

Transportation problems continue on the outskirts of Prague for thousands of railway commuters, days after a heavy snowstorm blanketed low-lying regions of the Czech Republic. A number of connections, primarily on two of the main commuter lines between Prague and the towns of Kolín and Beroun, have been cancelled while others are seriously delayed or have limited capacities. Ropid, the company responsible for public transit planning in and around Prague, says that while other modes of municipal transportation are now running satisfactorily, the railway system is still suffering from a number of snow-bound switches and inoperable vehicles.

The Czech Statistical Office has released the results of retail sales for the month of November, showing a 4.9%% decrease year-on-year. The result is a 0.2 point decline from the preceding month. As in October, the slump was put down to decreased sales of motor vehicles and non-grocery goods. According to the Czech Press Agency, the result marks the largest drop in retail sales since early 2008, when adjusted by seasonal influences and the number of working days. The EU on average saw a 0.8% decline for the month.

The Czech Republic’s candidate for the post of European commissioner, Štefan Füle, answered questions from MEPs at a hearing on Tuesday to decide whether he should actually get the job. Mr Füle, a career diplomat who was once a member of the Communist Party, is in line for the position of commissioner for enlargement. At the start of his appearance in Brussels, he said there should be no shortcuts to membership of the European Union. On the hot issue of whether Turkey should be allowed to join the EU, Mr Füle told members of the European Parliament’s foreign affairs committee that accession talks were the best way of helping bring about that country’s modernisation. Asked whether he believed Turkey could be a full member of the EU, the Czech nominee said it most certainly could. The MEPs made almost no reference to Mr Füle’s Communist past. Tuesday was the second of four days of interviews of candidates for European Commission posts.