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U.S. intelligence reports that the crash of a Russian passenger plane in Egypt's Sinai Peninsula was most likely caused by a bomb have shocked the international community and raised fresh concerns regarding security and tourism to the region. With Egypt high on the list of Czech popular tourist destinations many holiday-makers awaited the Czech Foreign Ministry’s recommendations.

Car maker Volkswagen’s woes are piling up from the false emissions scandal. And they are now affecting key subsidiaries such as the Czech Republic’s biggest motor manufacturer Škoda Auto.

The government is to launch a new fast-track programme to make it easier for high school and university graduates from Ukraine to seek employment in the Czech Republic. There is hope new applicants will fill gaps in the labour market.

The Czech Republic is introducing sexual assistants trained to provide paid services to disabled people. The assistants, whose services were approved by the Interior Ministry, were selected and trained by the Czech charity ‘Rozkoš bez rizika’ (‘Bliss without Risk’), which provides counselling for sex-workers.

The government on Monday agreed to send an additional 105 million crowns in aid largely to the Middle East and Africa this year and an additional 70 million in the next to help countries in the region hit by the refugee crisis. The bulk of the funds will go to two EU funds for Syria and Africa but some will also be set aside for the World Food Programme and the United Nations High Commission for Refugees.

The Czech Republic’s biggest national park Šumava has recently opened a wolf observation site at its new visitor centre in the town of Srní. The park’s management wants to get the public more used to the former inhabitants of the local forests, hoping that the public exposure to the wolves will help erode some of the ingrained prejudices against them.

The 2015 world expo closed its doors to the public on Saturday and as Milan celebrates the success of the undertaking, the Czech team has good reason to be proud. The Czech pavilion was awarded the bronze medal for architectural merit, as well as being voted the most visitor-friendly.

As the influx of refugees heading for Western Europe continues, an increasing number of volunteers are trying to help the refugees stranded in camps on Croatia’s borders. There are now reported to be around 100 Czechs working in the area. While some of the teams are supported by humanitarian organisations, such as People in Need, others have come at their own initiative.

The Czech Republic’s biggest pop-star, Karel Gott, was taken to hospital on Monday after reportedly suffering two heart attacks. The 76-year-old singer was rushed to Prague’s Institute of Clinical and Experimental Medicine and underwent surgery on Tuesday. His wife confirmed the news about the heart surgery on Gott’s Facebook page, without adding any further details.

Czech President Miloš Zeman bestowed no fewer than 35 high state honours on Wednesday at a Prague Castle ceremony celebrating the anniversary of the foundation of Czechoslovakia. Among those decorated were a WWII hero, a teenager who sacrificed his life for a classmate and an ex-football star. However, the list of honourees has not been without controversy.