Daily news summary

Investor puts CZK 800 million into Czech-US cancer research project

A team of Czech and American scientists are working on a new method of fighting cancer. It involves removing amino acid glutamine, which serves as fuel for them, from cancer cells. The results are so promising that a US investor has put around CZK 800 million into the project.

The research is being carried out by scientists from the Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry at the Czech Academy of Sciences and Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore. Clinical trials are due to begin next year, the Academy of Sciences announced on Tuesday.

Christian Democrats chief floats idea of broad minority coalition

The leader of the Christian Democrats has put forward the idea of a broad minority coalition as a way out of the current political impasse. Pavel Bělobrádek says a government could be formed of his party, the Civic Democrats, the Social Democrats, the Pirates, TOP 09 and the Mayors and Independents.

Representatives of the six parties are to meet on Wednesday to discuss the outcome of a meeting between the president and ANO chief Andrej Babiš on Tuesday evening.

The six-party minority government proposed by Mr. Bělobrádek would have 85 mandates in the 200-seat lower house, more than the acting ANO government, he said.

He said Mr. Babiš had proven a failure after being unable to form a functioning government six months after the elections.

Two police injured in shooting at home

Two policemen were injured in a shooting incident at a care in the community home in Domažlice, West Bohemia on Tuesday. The assailant, a 34-year-old mental patient, then shot himself dead.

The officers are not in a critical condition, a police spokesperson said. The shooter had been due to be transferred to a different facility on Tuesday due to a deterioration in his condition.

Unemployment down to 3.5 percent

Unemployment in the Czech Republic has reached a new 20-year low, dropping to 3.5 percent in March, down from 3.7 the previous month.

According to the Czech Statistics Office the downward trend was recorded in all regions of the country.

Labour offices registered 263, 000 unemployed who could take their pick from over 250,000 job vacancies on the market.

Ski resort operators say winter one of best ever

Czech ski facility operators say the season just ended was one of their best ever. Representatives of the Association of Mountain Resorts said that visitor figures were up by 2 percent, while revenues grew by 5 percent compared to the previous winter.

Numbers were boosted by the interest of Czech visitors on the back of a healthy economy. Over 80 percent of visitors were from this country.

Czech men to face Hungary in playoffs for Davis Cup World Group

The Czech men’s tennis team will face Hungary in playoffs for the elite World Group in the Davis Cup. The draw took place on Tuesday, three days after the Czechs earned a place in the decider after overcoming Israel in Ostrava. The clash will get underway in Hungary on 14 September. The Czech Republic won the Davis Cup in 2012 and 2013, though the stars of that team are no longer representing the country.

Weather forecast

Wednesday should be mainly bright in the Czech Republic, with temperatures of up to 20 degrees Celsius. Daytime highs are due to remain at a similar level over the following days, though there will be a chance of rain.