NUCLEAR š Public approval of nuclear power has fallen by nearly 10 percent since 2000, when the Temelín nuclear plant opened, but more than half of Czech citizens still support it, according to a recent poll by the STEM agency. The poll found that 54 percent still support nuclear power's development and use, down from 63 percent about five years ago and 68 percent in 1994, its highest level of support.

IRAQ š Martin Klepetko, Czech ambassador to Iraq, will leave his post and be replaced by current Lithuanian ambassador Petr Voznica, according to Euro. The paper noted that Czech media have speculated about Klepetko's dismissal for several months, discussing his level of competence, though the Foreign Affairs Ministry has continued to defend the ambassador's performance.

ROMA š Czech government Ombudsman Otakar Motejl has found no evidence that Romany women systematically faced forced sterilization from 1975, calling incidents an isolated phenomenon. Roma groups say some women had not consented to the operation or did so under threat of being stripped of social benefits or under extreme duress.

KREJČÍŘ š Police investigating Czech businessman Radovan Krejčíř on charges of financial misdealings have accused his wife of laundering some of the money he gained through alleged illegal activities. Authorities now say that Krejčířová funneled money through a large piece of real estate in Černošice, outside of Prague.

ZEMAN š Former Prime Minister Miloš Zeman will spend the weekend with current Prime Minister Jiří Paroubek at Paroubek's cottage in the Jizerské Mountains July 16 and 17. The two will discuss politics and life in a "totally private visit," said Zeman, who is expected to give Paroubek a copy of his memoirs, How I Erred in Politics.

HEROIN š Italian police have detained a Czech policeman from Chomutov caught with nearly 1 kilogram (2.2 pounds) of heroin worth almost 1 million Kč ($39,500), authorities said. The Interior Ministry investigated the officer three years ago on allegations of illegally importing cars, though no charges were filed, and Chomutov police said he had already given his resignation notice before leaving on his Italy trip.