News

The Czech carrier CSA announced Friday that it will dramatically cut its flights to Canada because of low passenger numbers. CSA will end flights between Prague and Montreal from the start of 2008 and three weekly flights only will be scheduled between the Czech capital and Toronto between June and October, the period of peak demand, the airline said in a news release. During the winter months, flights to Canada have only been around 55 percent full. CSA announced in November that it made a net profit of 563 million crowns (the equivalent of almost 836 million dollars) during the first nine months of the year, turning round a series of losses during the previous three years.

The newest poll published by the CVVM agency has suggested that if a national election were held today it would be won by the Social Democratic Party. According to the survey, the party’s popularity continues to stand at 36 percent, followed by the ruling Civic Democrats at 29, down six percent since June. The Communist Party would receive 16 percent – a one percent rise - followed by the Greens at 10.5, and the Christian Democrats at 5.5. CVVM’s survey takes into consideration only respondents who say they would actually come to the polling stations. It does not include undecided voters and those who would not cast their ballot.

A NATO centre specializing in weapons of mass destruction opened in the Czech town of Vyskov on Thursday. The joint chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear defense centre will employ 50 international military experts to provide consultancy services, work on security doctrines, train soldiers and organize simulation exercises. There are 16 similar NATO centers in different parts of the world, each with a different specialisation. Like the others this centre will be under direct NATO command.

The parents of two baby girls accidentally swapped in hospital a year ago say they will exchange their daughters on New Year’s Day. The parents learnt of the accidental swap in October after one of the fathers secretly ordered a DNA test, fearing that his daughter was not his biological child. When the mother’s subsequent tests came out negative as well, the hospital admitted its mistake. Both sets of parents said they were shattered by the revelation and in particular the mothers are having immense difficulties coming to terms with the fact that they will have to swap their children. Two earlier dates for the swap –the babies’ birthdays and Christmas day – were scrapped in order to give both the babies and adults time to get used to each other.