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The number of Czechs addicted to the home made drug pervitin –or crystal methamphetamine – has seen a steep rise in the past decade, according to National Anti-Drug Centre head Viktor Mravčík.

While ten years ago some 25 thousand young Czechs were addicted to pervitin, now their number has risen to 35 thousand.

Addiction to pervitin is the second most widespread addiction doctors are treating, immediately after alcohol.

Friday should be partly cloudy to overcast with day temperatures between 20 and 24 degrees Celsius.

The bankrupt Poldi Steelworks was auctioned off for a third time on Thursday, to an anonymous bidder for 256 million crowns.

The minimum bid was set at 160 million crowns with the estimated value of Poldi’s assets given as 180 million crowns.

The first two auctions that took place earlier this year fell through after the bidders failed to pay the bid amount within the set time limit.

The former jewel of Czech steel-making, has been in insolvency since last December.

The police have arrested a man suspected of making hoax bomb threats in Prague.

The caller said he had placed explosives in the Anděl shopping centre in Prague’s Smichov district and demanded ten million crowns.

The centre was closed for six hours on Monday and nearby traffic was rerouted as explosives experts searched the building. A similar threat was made the next day.

If convicted the man would face up to 12 years in jail.

Transport Minister Dan Tok has ordered an inspection of all bridges built in this country in the period from 1960 to 1980.

The move comes after an inspection of a bridge in Doubí, near Karlovy Vary revealed that it was in much worse condition than previously thought and would have to be pulled down. The bridge was originally slated for reconstruction.

The inspection ordered should start immediately and cover some 1,000 bridges around the country. There are over 18,000 road bridges in the Czech Republic and close to 7,000 rail bridges.

Prime Minister Andrej Babiš will hold talks with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin on September 5. The talks are expected to focus primarily on migration, the EU budget, Brexit and European elections. A number of bilateral issues are also on the agenda, such as road construction, cooperation in research and development and the Czech-German Fund of the Future. The Czech prime minister this week held talks in Italy and Malta to try to convince European leaders to change their approach to the migrant crisis.

No.8 seed Karolina Plíšková defeated Ana Bogdan and moved into the third round at the US Open on Wednesday. Plíšková had to rally from 0-3 down in the second set, but she turned the game around in emphatic fashion to win 6-2, 6-3.

Next, Plíšková will take on the winner of the game between No.32 seed Maria Sakkari or Sonia Kenin in the third round.

President Miloš Zeman has defended Czech participation in NATO's Resolute Support mission in Afghanistan.

In an address to Czech ambassadors, who are assembled in Prague for their annual consultations, President Zeman said that Czech soldiers in Kabul were fighting for Prague, and their presence there was vital for the country’s national interests.He said Afghanistan was the most important foreign mission in which Czech soldiers were currently taking part.

The words came in reaction to criticism of Czech participation in the Afghan mission from some Czech parties and suggestions that the Czech Republic should withdraw its troops.

President Zeman also addressed the issue of sanctions against Russia arguing that they should not be extended in the European Council without proper debate on the issue.

State support for NGOs has been lowered by 586 million crowns as opposed to the government’s original plan, Prime Minister Andrej Babiš told journalists on Wednesday. There should be less money for NGOs linked to the education sector but more for those active in the field of social services.

Overall state support for NGOs should rise year-on-year by approximately 800 million. The government is also planning lay-offs in state administration. Over 1,300 positions will be scrapped, many of which have been unfilled for some time.

Thursday should be partly cloudy to overcast with rain in most parts of the country and day temperatures between 19 and 24 degrees Celsius.