News
Czech cancer patients among the least likely in Europe to be prescribed the latest medicines, says Swedish study
A new study by the Karolinska Institute of Sweden has found that cancer patients in the Czech Republic are among the least likely in Europe to be treated with the latest medicines. The report, which is due to be presented to the European Parliament this week, also singled out Hungary, Norway, Poland and the United Kingdom in this regard. The Stockholm-based institute said shortages in new cancer drugs are generally caused by tight financial controls in countries like the Czech Republic and by delays in approving medicines.
The Czech Senate is to hold an open hearing this week on controversial amendments to the labour law
The Senate will convene a public hearing about proposed changes to the labour law on Tuesday. A major point of contention relates to severance pay. Workers unions want to keep in place a provision requiring an employer to give three months notice and pay two months' severance pay. Employers' associations say the requirement is too costly and leads to an inflexible workforce.
Social Democrats of Czech Republic and Smer party of Slovakia pledge mutual help in election campaigns
The Social Democrats and their Slovak counterparts signed a cooperation agreement on Sunday in which they pledge to help each other ahead of general elections next year in their respective countries. The Slovak opposition party Smer, headed by Robert Fico, wants to highlight the successes of the Czech centre-left party as a contrast to what it deems the shortcoming of Slovak reforms put in place by the centre-right coalition of Slovak Prime Minister Mikulas Dzurinda. Czech Prime Minister and Social Democrat leader Jiri Paroubek said Czech and Slovak politicians may appear at joint rallies in the future.
Police intervene at birthday party gathering of neo-Nazis in a Kutna Hora restaurant, make one arrest
Several dozen far-right extremists gathered in a Kutna Hora restaurant on Saturday night for a birthday celebration. Eighty-eight police were dispatched to the scene after a private citizen in the central Bohemian town called in a complaint. One skinhead wearing a tee-shirt promoting a banned neo-Nazi music group was taken into custody. Police have been criticised in recent years for allowing neo-Nazi concerts to take place undisturbed. Recently, two police officials in southern Bohemia were demoted for failing to intervene at a similar gathering of neo-Nazis.
Czech tennis star Nicole Vadisova has won the WTA title at the Korea Open; Radek Stepanek loses Vietnam Open
Second-seeded Nicole Vadisova of the Czech Republic rallied from an early deficit to beat top-seeded Jelena Jankovic of Serbia 7-5, 6-3 to win the Korea Open WTA title on Sunday. The 16-year-old Czech, who has two Women's Tennis Association tour titles to Jankovic's one, let loose a flurry of aces to dominate in the second set and win the match in little over an hour.
In men's tennis, Jonas Bjorkman of Sweden beat Radek Stepanek of the Czech Republic 6-3 7-6 (7/4) to win the Vietnam Open and claim his first title since 2002.
Weather
Light rain and daytime temperatures in the mid teens remains the forecast for the coming days.
