News

According to European Commission statistics released on Friday the number of road traffic deaths fell by one fifth in the Czech Republic in the past five years. In 2001, traffic accidents claimed 1,334 lives compared to 1,063 last year. Police attribute the drop in the number of road deaths in large measure to new legislation introduced in 2006. At the same time, the statistics show that too many Czech drivers and passengers do not take the mandatory use of seat belts seriously enough: 72 percent of passengers in front use them regularly, while only 41 percent use them in back. The Czech Republic fares better regarding drink driving, with a fairly low five percent of deaths that are alcohol-related. The Czech Republic also has a lower number of deaths among youths behind the wheel between the ages of 18 and 25.

Czech classical musicians are among those mourning the passing of Russian cellist and conductor Mstislav Rostropovich who died in Moscow at the age of 80 on Friday. Conductor of the Czech Philharmonic Zdenek Macal, and the director of the Prague Spring Festival Roman Belor, stated Mr Rostropovich was one of the greatest figures in classical music in the second half of the 20th century, with Mr Macal praising Mr Rostropovich as an "excellent musician, conductor, as well as a humanist and fantastic person". Cellist Jitka Vlasankova on Friday recalled memories of Mr Rostropovich conducting a charity concert in London in the 1980s.

The Russian conductor and performer had close ties to Prague and the Czech Republic: after the Soviet-led invasion of 1968 he said he would not perform in Czechoslovakia again until the last Soviet solider had left. Mr Rostropovich kept his word and performed in Prague in 1991, nine days after the last troops departed.

The Detroit Red Wings - with Czech goalie Dominik Hasek - have lost their first match in the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs to the San Jose Sharks. Facing 19 shots on Thursday night, Hasek was beaten twice in the first period. The Red Wings never got on board: netminder Evgeni Nabakov blanked all 34 of Detroit's attempts. Game 2 of the series takes place in Detroit on Saturday.

President Vaclav Klaus and US President George W. Bush have discussed US plans to build a radar station in the Czech Republic as well as President Bush's upcoming visit to the country. The telephone conversation on Wednesday came as President Klaus prepared for a four-day state visit to Russia with relations strained by the Czech Republic's willingness to host part of an expanded US missile defence shield. Russian opposition to the US project to install a tracking radar in the Czech Republic and 10 interceptor missiles in neighbouring Poland is set to dominate the meeting between Mr Klaus and his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin.