Daily news summary
Two Czech diplomats to coordinate search for missing Czech in Libya
The government emergency team met again on Sunday to discuss the case of the Czech citizen, who went missing after the attack on an oil field in Libya. Islamic State supporters on Friday attacked the al-Ghani oil field in southern Libya, killing 11 local guards and taking at least seven foreign workers hostage, including an Austrian and Czech citizen. Two Czech diplomats appointed by Foreign Minister Lubomír Zaorálek will be heading to Libya to coordinate the search; one is to leave by Sunday evening and the other one within the next 48 hours. The Czech cabinet is set to discuss the situation on Monday.
Some 300,000 gun owners registered in the Czech Republic
There are some 300,000 registered gun-owners in the Czech Republic and altogether, they own around 750,000 guns, according to the police statistics published by the Czech TV on Sunday. In reaction to last month's shooting incident in Uherský Brod, which left nine people dead, the goverment is currently considering tightening the criteria for issuing firearms licenses. So far, permit holders are required to pass a theoretical and practical test, as well as a medical check-up. Some 75 percent of applicants pass the test on average.
Tomáš Vandas re-elected leader of Workers' Party of Social Justice
Tomáš Vandas has ben re-elected leader of the far-right Workers' Party of Social Justice (DSSS). The 46-year-old Vandas was voted for by 90 out of 92 members. After the conference on Saturday, Vandas told the Czech News Agency that his priorities were the fight against immigration and „islamisation“ of the country. He also warned against the growing political power of the multi-millionaire and ANO party leader Andrej Babiš. The Workers Party of Social Justice is linked to the Workers' Party, which was banned in 2010 on the grounds of disruption of democrtaic values for inciting racism, xenophobia and promoting National Socialism.
Czech climber dies in High Tatras
A fifty two-year old Czech mountain climber has died in the High Tatra mountains in Slovakia. The man and his colleague were heading to Tupá mountain on Saturday afternoon without being secured. When the man failed to reach the top, his colleague descended and contacted the Slovak mountain rescue service. The rescuers found his body in a ravine under the mountain ridge. A spokesman for the Slovak rescue team said his injuries were so serious he most likely died on impact.
Runner Jakub Holuša secures second Czech gold at European championships
Czech runner Jakub Holuša secured second gold for the Czech Republic at the European Athletics Indoor Championships, after winning men's 1500 metres final on Sunday. Holuša overcame leading Ilham Tanuie Özbilen of Turkey in the finish, setting a new Czech record with the time of 3:37.68 minutes. Great Britain's Chris O'Hare finished in the third place.
Cross-country skier Řezáč takes bronze at Vasaloppet
Marathon cross-country skier Stanislav Řezáč won the bronze medal at the traditional 90km Vasaloppet race in Sweden on Sunday. The 41-year-old Řezáč managed to keep with the lead group of skiers, but lost his strength in the final two kilometres. Norway's Petter Eliassen took the win, finishing ahead of his compatriot Anders Aukland. It was the 17th start at the Vasaloppet for Řezáč, who won a total of six medals over the years. Another Czech, Adéla Boudíková, finished eleventh, securing the best result for Czech women skiers in the history of the race.
Sprinter Pavel Maslák wins first Czech gold in European Championships
Czech sprinter Pavel Maslák has delivered the Czech Republic's first gold of the European Athletics Indoor Championships. The 21-year-old athlete won Saturday's men's 400m final in Prague's O2 arena in a time of 45.33 seconds, setting a new championships record. Maslák spent the entire race in front and was the clear winner, finishing nearly a second ahead of Belgium's Dylan Borlée. Polish sprinter Rafal Omelko came in third.
