News
Fresh bird flu outbreaks confirmed as H5N1 strain
Two fresh outbreaks of bird flu in the Pardubice region of east Bohemia have been confirmed as the H5N1 strain of the disease, which can be passed on to humans and other animals. The farms where the latest cases were detected are in close proximity to the poultry farms where last month bird flu was found in a Czech poultry flock for the first time. Soldiers and fire fighters have begun exterminating around 70,000 birds. The operation is expected to last three to five days.
Approval of EU membership below 50 percent in Eurobarometer poll for first time
Czech citizens' approval of European Union membership fell in the first half of this year, suggests a new national survey prepared for Eurobarometer. In the second half of 2006, 51 percent of respondents in the twice-annual poll said EU membership was a good thing; however, that figure fell to 46 percent this year - the first time that rating has dropped below the 50 percent mark in a Eurobarometer poll. As for what worries Czechs, the health service was regarded as the biggest problem - almost 40 percent said it was a concern, twice as many as the EU average.
Foreign Ministry condemns vandalism of Soviet war graves
The Czech Foreign Ministry has condemned damage done to the graves of Soviet soldiers at Prague's Olsany graveyard. The Russian Foreign Ministry lodged a protest earlier this week after it emerged that bronze reliefs had been removed from the headstones of Russian soldiers who were killed in Prague during World War II. Prague reiterated its commitment to treaties with Moscow on the mutual maintenance of war graves.
More human body parts found at Usti nad Labem school
Police in Usti nad Labem have found more human body parts in a plastic bag buried in the grounds of a secondary school in the town, the iDnes news website reported. The discovery was made just metres from the spot where on Saturday a girl's head was found in a bag. The victim is believed to have been killed around three weeks ago, and to have been between 17 and 20 years of age.
Vaidisova ruled out of Fed Cup tie with glandular fever
The Czech women's tennis number one Nicole Vaidisova has contracted a mild form of glandular fever and has been ordered to rest for up to three weeks. That means Vaidisova, ranked ninth in the world, will miss the Czech Republic's Fed Cup clash with Spain next weekend; the winner of the tie will qualify for the Fed Cup's elite World Group.
Smicer rejoins Slavia Prague after gap of 11 years
The Czech footballer Vladimir Smicer has rejoined Slavia Prague after a gap of 11 years. The midfielder left Slavia in 1996 for France's Lens, before going on to win the Champions League with Liverpool two years ago. Smicer, who is 34, has scored 27 goals in 81 games for the Czech national team.
Czech Under 20s into quarter-finals at World Cup
The Czech Under-20 football team have reached the quarter-finals at the World Cup in Canada, after knocking out Japan in a penalty shootout. The Czech Republic have never gone past the last eight stage in the competition - the country's youngsters will have a chance to do just that when they face Spain on Sunday.
Weather
After a cool period, it is set to get dramatically warmer here in the Czech Republic, with temperatures reaching up to 36 degrees Celsius at the start of next week. It should be mostly sunny.
