News

Flood Commission warns of more inundation

The Czech Republic’s Central Flood Commission has warned that more flooding may occur around the country as storms are forecast for the coming days. Speaking after a commission meeting on Saturday, Prime Minister Petr Nečas said that land was still saturated in many areas and further flooding could occur very quickly, perhaps in places that have just been inundated. He also said there was a danger of landslides. Almost a week after flooding began in several parts of Bohemia, Mr. Nečas said the good news was the country was functioning well. Nearly 20,000 people were evacuated last week and 10 people died, while material damage has been estimated in the billions of crowns.

All stations in Prague’s metro system to reopen on Sunday

Prague’s transport authority is planning to reopen all of the stations in the city’s metro system at 15:00 on Sunday, the new website Lidovky.cz reported. The metro’s operators had previously said they would open on Monday the remaining stations closed since the threat of flooding began last week. Flood barriers will remain in the vestibules of some stations. Reacting to the news, Prime Minister Nečas said the decision to reopen the entire system early was ill-considered and at variance with the views of the Central Flood Commission.

Christian Democrats re-elect Bělobrádek as party leader

The Christian Democrats have re-elected Pavel Bělobrádek as party leader. Two-hundred and forty-four of 272 delegates voted for the unopposed Mr. Bělobrádek at a party congress in Olomouc on Saturday. He told the assembled that he believed that the Christian Democrats would re-enter the Chamber of Deputies in elections scheduled for a year from now. Opinion polls have been putting the party, whose stronghold is in Moravia, at around the five-percent threshold needed to get into the lower house.

Elementary school pupil gives birth on excursion

A 15-year-old elementary school pupil from the North Moravian town of Hlučín gave birth to a baby girl on a school trip to Český Krumlov in south Bohemia last week, the Czech News Agency reported. The principal of the school said nobody had known the girl was pregnant. When she was taken ill doctors discovered she was about to give birth. The police said they will begin investigating the matter once they have been officially informed of it.

Weekend of Open Gardens held for fourth time

Some gardens in the Czech Republic that are not usually accessible are open to the public on Saturday and Sunday, while some that can normally be entered are running special events. The Palace Gardens beneath Prague Castle are the most important venue on the Weekend of Open Gardens, which is being held for the fourth time. By contrast, many of the Czech Republic’s parks – including 30 in Prague – are still closed to the public in the wake of recent heavy rains and flooding.

Czechs draw 0:0 with Italy in home World Cup qualifier

The Czech Republic drew 0:0 with Italy in a soccer World Cup qualification game in Prague on Friday night. The Czechs played relatively well but were left to regret a number of unconverted chances and failing to capitalise on numerical advantage following the sending off on 71 minutes of Italy’s Mario Balotelli. The result further reduces the Michal Bílek’s chances of reaching the competition, which takes place in Brazil next year.

Bruins, featuring Jágr and Krejčí, reach NHL final

The Boston Bruins, featuring Czech players Jaromír Jágr and David Krejčí, have reached the final of the NHL’s Stanley Cup. The Bruins’ 1:0 victory on Friday over the Pittsburgh Penguins – whose goaltender was another Czech, Tomáš Vokoun – gave them an unassailable 4:0 lead on games. Jágr, who joined the Bruins in April, last won the Stanley Cup with Pittsburgh in 1992.

Weather

It should be fair with some rain or storms in the coming days. Temperatures will reach up to 24 degrees Celsius.