Daily news summary
State Institute for Drug Control under spotlight after IT failures
Lawmakers in the lower house of parliament have called for an examination in the operation of the State Institute for Drug Control amid failures of its IT system and reports that it cannot perform its functions properly. The institute has been in a long-term dispute with the provider of its IT systems. This has led to the loss of some databases. The system was reported to have collapsed altogether before Christmas resulting in patients being unable to claim medicaments with electronic receipts. The institute, tasked with controlling the availability and price of drugs, says reports of the problems are exaggerated.
Former president Václav Klaus says immigration crisis is calculated means to united Europe
Former Czech president and founder of the Civic Democrat party Václav Klaus has said the migration crisis is a means for the Brussels based elite to push for a united Europe. Klaus said on commercial broadcaster Prima that the Brussels elite wanted to use the crisis to diminish national powers and was acting in a coldly calculated fashion. The ambitions were not so different from the plans of Hitler and Stalin for re-shaping the continent, he added. Klaus has recently said he wants to be at the head of a cross party movement which would bolster opposition to immigration. Klaus added the Czech government had been too passive in its opposition.
Severe frosts forecast in eastern Bohemia, Moravia
Forecasters have warned of severe frosts in eastern Bohemia and north-east Moravia and Silesia overnight on Sunday. Temperatures in some areas of Moravia could fall to minus 16 degrees Celsius. The sharp frost is good news for some vineyards specialising in so-called ice wine, where grapes are left to freeze before collection. A second frost of at least minus seven degrees is required before harvesting and that is now guaranteed in southern Moravia. Such wine is reputed to have a higher sugar content.
Czech driver in 14th place on Dakar debut
Czech Dakar Rally debutant driver Martin Prokop made a great start to the competition with a 14th position after the first race in Buenos Aires. Prokop trailed first placed Dutchman Bernhard Ten Brink by just 13 seconds. In the motorcycle section, David Pabiška was the best placed Czech with a 37th place, trailing the leader by 38 seconds. The trucks part of the competition did not take place after accidents in which bystanders were hurt.
Jizerská 50 event curtailed because of snow shortage
Organisers have been forced to curtail the famous cross country Jizerská 50 event next weekend because of the lack of snow. The circuit will be limited to between four and six kilometres with the event now spaced out over three days. Conditions have now allowed the creation of artificial snow but a natural snowfall of around 30 centimetres would be necessary for the event to return to its usual format. Forecasters say that is very unlikely in the next days. Around 4,000 contestants have already signed up for the event.
Jiří Veselý starts with Hopman Cup win
Czech tennis player Jiří Veselý has got off to a winning start in the Hopman Cup. Veselý beat former world number one, Australian Lleyton Hewitt 6:3, 6:7, 6:4. The Czech took a 3:0 in the third set but failed to serve out at 5:2. Veselý is teamed up with Karolína Plíšková for the combination of internal team singles and doubles events being played at Perth, Australia.
Czechs heavily defeated by US in ice hockey world under 20 event
In the Under 20 Ice Hockey world championships, the Czech team have been knocked out in the quarterfinals by the US. The Czechs were defeated by a wide 7:0 by a much more clinical opponent in front of goal. The Czech coach admitted the plan to try to hold the US to zero and hit them on the break failed. US player Austin Matthews racked up a hat-trick. The Czech team finishes fifth overall. The US go on to face Russia in the semi-final. The other tie matches Sweden and Finland.
