Daily news summary
Two soccer internationals caught up in drug investigation
Two Czech football internationals have become caught up in a police investigation into an alleged drug dealer, the Czech Radio station Radiožurnál reported on Tuesday. Former Viktoria Plzeň player Ondřej Vaněk is suspected of acquiring narcotics from Vítězslav Meišner, who has been charged with selling ecstasy and cocaine. Current Plzeň player Jan Kopic is suspected of loaning Meišner CZK 500,000. The two players are due to appear as witnesses when the case comes to court soon, Czech Radio said. The station has police evidence that appears to show Vaněk, who now plays in the Russian league, asking Meišner to find him some "pills". Kopic is said to have made the substantial loan to Meišner just a month after their first meeting.
Juncker rejects complaints from Volkswagen CEO over Jourová’s compensation calls
Volkswagen CEO Matthias Müller wrote to the president of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker, to object to Czech European Commissioner Věra Jourová’s treatment of the company’s “dieselgate” affair, the news site Politico reported. Ms. Jourová, who holds the justice and consumers portfolio, has been calling on VW to compensate customers affected by the emissions cheating affair. However, Mr. Juncker rejected the suggestion that Brussels had, through Commissioner Jourová, overstepped its powers, Politico said. Instead, he urged Mr. Müller to continue his dialogue with her.
PM wants minimum wage to equal 40 percent of average wage from 2018
Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka says he would like to see the minimum wage rise to 40 percent of the average wage from next year. Mr. Sobotka made the comment after talks with union leaders on Tuesday. The average monthly wage in the Czech Republic was CZK 29,300 in the final quarter of last year. The head of the congress of trade unions, Josef Středula, said his organisation was advocating for the minimum wage to increase to at least CZK 12,500 a month from 2018. At present the figure is CZK 11,000.
Brno court bars Uber from offering taxi services
The Brno Regional Court has banned Uber from offering taxi services in the city under the company’s present operating conditions. The court said Uber breached several provisions in the law governing the operation of taxis. The firm may not offer services if drivers don’t possess a permit and if their car is not marked as a taxi and does not feature the name of a company or taximeter. The ruling, which Uber may contest, followed a complaint from a taxi firm in the Moravian capital.
Kvitová enters French Open draw but uncertain of being ready
The Czech tennis player Petra Kvitová has entered the draw for next month’s French Open, four months after sustaining serious hand injuries. The two-time Wimbledon winner required complicated surgery on her left hand after being attacked by a knife-wielding intruder in her home in December. Kvitová wrote on social media that said she may not be ready to play in Paris. However, she is doing everything possible to reach the Grand Slam tournament, she said. Kvitová, who is 27, reached world number two in 2011, the year of her first Wimbledon triumph.
Weather forecast
Wednesday should see some sunny spells with the chance of snow in the Czech Republic. Temperatures are expected to reach up to 4 degrees Celsius. Daytime highs of up to 10 degrees Celsius are forecast for later in the week.
