POLLS - The senior opposition Civic Democrats would likely win elections if they were held now, according to an April 3 poll by the Factum Invenio polling agency. The party is supported by 29.3 percent of potential voters. The ruling Social Democrats' approval rating fell from 26.5 to 25.3 percent. The Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia and the Green Party would take third and fourth place, respectively, the poll showed.

ARMS - Interpol delivered arms dealer Dalibor Kopp to the Czech Republic, Czech Television reported April 3. Kopp is accused of attempting to export ammunition illegally from the country to Iraq in 2004. He is also suspected of having contacts with terrorist organizations. If found guilty, he faces up to 10 years in prison.

GARBAGE - Customs officers in west Bohemia found 43 German trucks that tried to transport waste into the Czech Republic without proper documentation in March. Almost all the trucks were returned to Germany. The drivers of the remaining trucks paid a deposit before continuing on to their destination. Constant controls of waste will continue at 10 west Bohemia border crossings until further notice, customs officials said.

MURDER - A Scottish teenager could face life in prison after being convicted of murdering a Czech man last July, less than three months after he emigrated to Scotland. Adam Gallagher stabbed Marek Smrž, 21, through the heart. After a six-day trial, the jury deliberated for two-and-a-half hours before finding Gallagher guilty.

COMMISSION - The country is average when it comes to filling posts within the European Commission (EC), according to an EC report released April 3. There are currently 223 Czechs among the 1,627 EC employees from countries that joined the European Union in 2004. The EC has more than 20,000 staff members.