Daily news summary

Foreign minister says Russia playing role in migration crisis

Russia has played a role in the ongoing migration crisis, Czech Foreign Minister Lubomír Zaorálek has maintained in an interview for financial daily Hospodářské noviny. After a meeting of EU foreign ministers on Monday, Mr Zaorálek said the Russians had been active in “supplying” migrants to the EU. With Europe trying to shut down corridors into the 28-member bloc, the foreign minister said migrants would look for new entry routes; the foreign minister suggested that migrants could travel through Russia and on to Scandinavia. Mr Zaorálek cited information that Russians were actively transporting migrants across their territory while the country itself largely refused them asylum.

Another group of Christian refugees from Iraq to arrive in Czech Republic on Sunday

Another group of Christian refugees from Iraq are set to arrive in the Czech Republic on Sunday. The 23 member group will be taken to facilities in Prague and Smilovice, where they will spend two months getting their bearings and learning Czech before moving to a place of their own. The relocation of altogether 153 Iraqi refugees from Mosul is being financed by the Generation 21 foundation.

Zeman and Duda exchange highest state awards

Czech President Miloš Zeman and Polish President Andrzej Duda presented each other with their countries’ highest state distinctions on Tuesday at Prague Castle for their contribution to the development of Czech-Polish relations. Mr Zeman presented his counterpart with the Order of the White Lion first class, and received the Polish Order of the White Eagle. Mr Duda arrived in Prague on Monday for a two-day official visit. Among the topics he discussed with President Zeman were cooperation between the countries of the Visegrad Four, transport, and the migration crisis. Mr Duda is also scheduled to meet the country’s Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka and lay a wreath at the grave of former Czech president Václav Havel.

Government coalition to meet on Wednesday over Stork’s Nest scandal

The government coalition is set to meet on Wednesday to agree on joint action regarding Finance Minister and ANO leader Andrej Babiš and his suspect drawing of EU funds for his Stork’s Nest farm and conference centre, Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka told the daily Blesk on Tuesday. The Prime Minister said it was logical to demand an explanation on Mr Babiš regarding the matter. The Czech authorities have allegedly found discrepancies in the drawing of funds for the Stork’s Nest farm of finance minister Andrej Babiš and his giant agro-chemical group Agrofert, with fines of six million crowns at one stage imposed. Mr Babiš said on Tuesday that he would provide an explanation at an extraordinary session of Parliament called by the opposition for next Wednesday.

Czech state debt increased to over 1.6 trillion crowns last year

The Czech Republic’s state debt last year increased by 9.3 billion crowns to 1.673 trillion crowns, the Ministry of Finance announced on Tuesday, confirming the data released in February this year. The total debt breaks down into every Czech owing around 159,000 crowns each. Czech domestic debt rose by nearly 26 billion crowns to 1.389.4 trillion crowns while the country’s foreign debt dropped by 16.4 billion to over 283.6 billion crowns.

Czech kids lack physical activity and are increasingly overweight: WHO report

The majority of Czech children don’t get enough physical activity and they spend too much time in front of computers or the television, according to an international survey carried out by the World Health Organisation. Some 80 percent of Czech children are threatened by excess bodyweight and obesity, Alena Štefková of the Czech branch of World Health Organisation said at a press conference in Olomouc on Tuesday. The Health Behaviour in School-aged Children survey was carried out in 42 countries in the world. It also suggests that Czech kids are above-average consumers of alcohol and marihuana in comparison to their peers from other countries.

Number of hate crimes increased to 86 in 2014: In Iustitia

The number of hate crimes registered in the Czech Republic increased to 86 in 2014, the legal organisation In Iustitia, which is helping the crime victims, has reported. In 2011 the organisation registered 57 incidents. Most of the attacks happened in relation to nationality, ethnic origin or religion. Among the most frequent victims of hate attacks were Roma and Muslim men. In its report, In Iustitia also warned against growing Islamophobia in the Czech society.

Meteorologists issue black ice warning

The Czech Hydro-Meteorological Institute has issued a black ice alert for most of the Czech Republic, particularly the region of Plzeň, South Bohemia and Moravia. It will remain in place until Wednesday morning. Up to 15 centimetres of fresh snow fell on Tuesday night in the mountain regions of the Czech Republic.

Berdych advances to fourth round at Indian Wells after beating Coric

In tennis, Czech number one Tomáš Berdych has advanced to the fourth round of the Indian Wells Masters Series, after defeating Croatia’s Borna Čorič 6:1 and 7:6. The sixth-seeded Czech is set to face Canada’s Milos Raonic in the next round.

NHL hockey: Frolík gets hat trick against St. Louis

In hockey, Czech forward Michael Frolík got his second hat trick of the season (and second in his NHL career) in the Calgary Flames’ 7:4 win over the St. Louis Blues on Monday. Frolík’s first two goals came when his team was short-handed. The player was named the game’s third star.

Football: National squad coach says Rosický recovery going better than expected

Czech footballer Tomáš Rosický’s recovery from a recent muscle injury has been going better than initially expected, national team coach Pavel Vrba confirmed in Prague on Tuesday, discussing the line-up for upcoming friendlies against Scotland and Sweden. According to Vrba, Rosický (who plays for London football club Arsenal) has gotten off the exercise bike and begun running again. Vrba has been in regular contact with the player, he made clear; he expressed the hope that Rosický (who is national team captain) could still make a full recovery in time for Euro 2016 in France.