Daily news summary
Two soldiers injured during training in Libavá
Two soldiers were injured, one of them seriously, while undergoing training in the Libavá military zone in the Olomouc region on Wednesday evening. Both men were taken to hospital with one of them described as still in a critical condition. The incident is now being investigated by the military police.
Soldiers from US convoy to spend three nights in Czech Republic
Soldiers from the US convoy, which is due to cross the Czech Republic on its way from Germany to the Baltic States next week, will spend three nights in the country. They will spend a night in Prague before moving to Vyškov and Přáslavice. The American troops are also set to take part in joint exercises with the Czech Army. The convoy of approximately 500 soldiers and equipment will arrive in the Czech Republic on May 27.
Some 1400 children removed from parental custody last year over abuse and neglect
Some 1400 children had to be removed from parental custody over abuse or neglect last year and placed with their relatives, foster parents or to children’s homes, according to the annual report on child protection by the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs. The number of cases involving social workers has increased as well. While in 2005, social workers dealt with less than 2000 cases, last year the figures stood at around 9,400. According to experts, the growing figures have been caused mainly by greater awareness of the problem.
Over 50 percent of Czechs will go on holidays by car
A growing number of Czechs prefer to travel on holidays by car, rather than by plane, according to a survey by ERV, a network of travel insurance experts. This year, more than 50 percent of Czechs will use their car to reach their holiday destination. The survey also suggests that a growing number of Czechs prefer to travel on their own, without the help of a travel agency. Last year that figure amounted to 58 percent. Most Czechs want to spend their holidays at home or in Europe and they prefer bed and breakfast facilities and camping places over hotels.
Some 23 percent of students failed maths in secondary school-leaving exam
Despite a slight improvement, maths has again proved to be the most difficult subject in Czech secondary school-leaving exams. According to figures released by the Education Ministry on Thursday, some 23 percent of students failed the subject this year. Some 8.4 percent of students failed the Czech language exam this year, which is about two percentage points more than in the previous year. Mathematics has long been the most hated subject among Czech students.
Czech veterinarian to receive prestigious award by World Organization for Health of Animals
Czech veterinarian Oldřich Matouch will receive a prestigious award handed out by the World Organization for Health of Animals. Mr Matouch will be awarded for his contribution to the elimination of fox rabies in the Czech Republic by pioneering the use of oral rabies vaccination. The ceremony will take place in Paris on Sunday. The World Organization for Health of Animals award was established thirty years ago. This year, the nominees were chosen from 180 member countries.
Mladá Boleslav clinch top football cup trophy after beating Jablonec
In football, Mladá Boleslav has won the top Czech cup trophy of the season, the MOL Cup, after beating fellow north Bohemian club Jablonec on Wednesday night. The first goal was scored in the 71st minute with Mladá Boleslav building on the lead soon after. The victory is also good news for Prague club Slavia as a place will now be freed up for it to compete in the Europa League next season, a return to the European scene after a seven year gap.
Petr Čech wins Golden Glove award outright
Czech and Arsenal footballer Petr Čech is the outright winner of the Golden Glove award, the prize for the English Premier League goalkeeper with the most clean sheets over the season. The prize goes to Čech after his rival to share the prize, Manchester United’s David de Gea, conceded a goal in the dying seconds of the ‘Reds’ last game of the season against Bournemouth on Tuesday night. Čech had a tally of 16 clean sheets for the season.
Czechs knocked out of the World Ice Hockey Championships‘ quarter-finals
The Czech team have been knocked out of the Ice Hockey World Championship, after suffering a 2-1 defeat to the US in in the quarter-finals on Thursday. Czechs opened the scoring with Tomáš Zohorna in the 15th minute, but Auston Matthews equalled the score at the start of the second period. The game remained tied after overtime and was decided by penalty shootouts.
Czech coach names provisional squad for Euro 2016 finals
Czech football manager Pavel Vrba has named a broad squad of 28 players for the Euro 2016 championships in France starting June 10. Vrba said he had most problems selecting strikers. Bohemians 1905’s Patrik Schick is one four attackers named. Tomáš Rosický makes it into the squad in spite of recent injuries. Vrba will have to whittle the players down to 23 by the end of the month when he must notify UEFA of his final choice of players.
Temperatures to reach summer levels over weekend
After a relatively cold and rainy week, temperatures are expected to reach summer levels during the weekend, with daytime highs expected to climb to 25 degrees Celsius. The warm and sunny weather won’t last long, however. Sunday night will see a drop in temperatures and more rain is expected at the start of next week.
