• 08/05/2007

    Saturday saw five people killed in road accidents on Saturday, one of the deaths a motorcycle accident which saw the rider lose control of his bike in a turn and swerve into an on-coming vehicle. Police say this Saturday saw a total of 375 accidents, 53 of which resulted from speeding or not yielding right of way. 41 were drink-related. The high number of accidents, just a year after tougher road legislation was introduced, has prompted promises by the police to heighten their presence in areas. The worst weekend on Czech roads so far this year was the first weekend in July, which saw 14 people killed.

    Author: Jan Velinger
  • 08/05/2007

    Workers at Prague Zoo are considering steps to take in the case of Kijivu, a lowland gorilla at the zoo fallen ill with intestinal colic; there are worries that in the coming days the gorilla might not be able to care for her two-month old baby, Tatu. On Sunday morning the gorilla pavilion was closed to the public and Kijivu was given antibiotics; keepers are now weighing further options. It is possible the baby gorilla will need to be taken from the mother and fed artificially.

    Recent months have seen a number of worrying incidents at the zoo's gorilla pavilion: in July an unknown perpetrator tried to harm the apes by leaving nail-filled apples in their enclosure. But the tampered apples were uncovered in time.

    Author: Jan Velinger
  • 08/05/2007

    More and more brick & mortar antiquarian bookshops in the Czech Republic are beginning to successfully sell books, prints, and vinyl records over the Internet. According to sellers, interest abroad in rare books or prints remains high. People from smaller town or villages in the Czech Republic, too, are apparently showing an interest, not least because rare books often remain specific to certain regions. One bookseller, who began his website in 2005, told the CTK news agency that currently the Internet represented about 5 - 10 percent of his sales.

    Author: Jan Velinger
  • 08/05/2007

    Experts at the country's Hydrometeorological Institute have issued forest fire warnings throughout the country for the coming days; much of the Czech Republic is experiencing a heavy dry spell. Warnings have been issued for ten of the country's fourteen regions, including Central Bohemia and South Moravia. Fire brigades on Saturday registered 109 fires - double the usual figures.

    Author: Jan Velinger
  • 08/05/2007

    President Vaclav Klaus began a week-long vacation on Sunday that he will spend in north-eastern Bohemia, in the area of the Krkonose Mountains. Mr Klaus, an avid sportsman, will spend time hiking, and will climb the Czech Republic's highest mountain, Snezka (1602 metres). According to his spokesman, Petr Hajek, the president will return to work on August 13th, when he will meet with the Czech Under-20 football team which recently lost 2:1 against Argentina in the final of the U-20 World Cup in Toronto, Canada.

    Author: Jan Velinger
  • 08/05/2007

    The first match of their 2007/08 football season will see defending champions Sparta Prague face ex-champions Slovan Liberec. The match will be held in Prague on Monday afternoon. Sparta has a number of new players who will not be on the roster for Monday's opener, due to injury. The Sparta-Liberec match will be a first for new Liberec coach Michal Zach.

    Author: Jan Velinger
  • 08/04/2007

    The Czech Foreign Ministry on Friday welcomed the signing of a US security bill by President George W Bush which could make it easier for Czechs to travel visa-free to the US. But the ministry also expressed reservations, saying expectations had not been met. The legislation has retained targets which could prove difficult to meet. Under the bill, countries hoping to satisfy US visa-waiver requirements must have visa refusal rates no higher than 3 - or in exceptional cases - no higher than 10 percent. In recent years, Czechs have had a rate of around 9 percent of their visa applications rejected annually. Foreign ministry spokeswoman Zuzana Opletalova made clear on Friday that the refusal rate criteria was one reason why the Czech Republic, along with other countries such as Poland and Slovakia, would continue seeking further changes.

    Author: Jan Velinger
  • 08/04/2007

    President Vaclav Klaus has said that the government should respect public opposition to a US plan to station a radar base in the country. He made the comment while speaking on a broadcast for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. In the broadcast, the president also criticised special government spokesman, Tomas Klvana, for simplifying the issue. The United States have formally asked the Czech Republic to host a radar base on its territory as part of a broader missile defense system in Europe. But public opinion polls have repeatedly suggested a majority of Czechs remain against the idea. Villages and towns near the proposed site for the radar have also expressed their opposition through a number of symbolic referenda.

    Author: Jan Velinger
  • 08/04/2007

    The Czech Agriculture and Food Inspection Authority has uncovered a new incidence of the potentially deadly listeria bacteria in Czech-produced bacon. The bacon was being sold at a supermarket, part of the Kaufland chain in Prague. Almost 700 kilograms of the bacon was taken off the shelves and customers who had already bought the product, dated with an expiry date of August 3rd, have been urged not to eat it. Inspectors are conducting a thorough check of the Premium meat production plant - which packaged the bacon - in west Bohemia. Listeria is potentially deadly especially for the elderly. Last year saw 80 cases of infection; 14 proved fatal.

    Author: Jan Velinger
  • 08/04/2007

    The driver of a Skoda 120, passing an Austrian bus on Friday, which ended up sliding and overturning down a slope, has been questioned by police. Investigators are trying to determine the car's role in the accident. The bus crashed shortly after 11 am, requiring emergency services. The latest information revealed says a total of 7 people aboard suffered serious injuries; 16 escaped with lighter injuries. The bus crashed near the south Bohemian town of Rozmberk nad Vltavou; it had been headed for Cesky Krumlov.

    Author: Jan Velinger

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