Daily news summary
Foreign Minister Petříček to visit Vatican in November
Foreign Minister Tomáš Petříček is set to visit the Vatican during a Czech national pilgrimage to Roma on November 10 and 11. Mr. Petříček, accompanied by a delegation of Senators, is due to meet with diplomatic representatives of the Catholic church.
He is due to hold talks with will hold talks with the Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin and the Secretary or Relations with States, Paul Richard Gallagher.
The National Pilgrimage to Rome will mark the 30th anniversary of the canonization of Saint Agnes, the 13th century daughter of the King ad Queen of Bohemia.
Three people injured by explosion at Semtex plant remain in critical condition
Three people who suffered serious injuries in a blast at an explosives factory in Pardubice on Friday morning remain in a critical condition in Prague’s Vinohrady hospital. All of them were placed in an intensive-care unit and remain in an induced coma.
The explosion occurred at the Explosia plant, which manufactures the plastic explosive Semtex, often used in terrorist attacks because of its high performance and easy use.
Kupka painting auctioned for 16 million crowns
A painting by František Kupka, a pioneer of the abstraction movement and master of symbolism, sold at auction in Prague on Saturday for 16 million crowns, Miloš Svoboda of the European Arts auction told the Czech News Agency.
The 1907 oil on canvas, called Pískaři na Seině (Sand Workers on the Seine), complete with the auction house’s fee will cost the new owner a total of nearly 20 million crowns.
Kupka's paintings have been one of the most expensive to be auctioned in Prague for several years now.
Tennis: Plíšková knocked out of WTA Finals
Czech World No. 2 Karolína Plíšková has failed to make it into the final of the prestigious season-ending WTA Finals in Shenznen.
She lost to Australia’s Ashleigh Barty 4-6, 6-2, 6-3 in the semifinal.
The Czech seed No. 2 finished in the final four of the WTA Finals for the third consecutive year.
Meanwhile, Plíšková’s compatriot, Barbora Strýcová with her Taiwanese partner Hsieh Su-Wei advanced to the final round in the women’s doubles, defeating Anna-Lena Groenefeld and Demi Schuurs in straight sets 6-1, 6-2.
Meteorologists warn of high winds
The Czech Hydro-Meteorological Institute has issued a warning against strong winds for the eastern part of the country. The warning is valid from Sunday until the early hours of Monday morning.
According to meteorologists, the regions of Zlín, Moravia-Silesia, Olomouc and South Moravia could see winds of up to 70 km/hour.
Drivers have been warned to exercise extreme caution and mountain rescue services have advised people against mountain hiking on that day.
Weather
Sunday is expected to be mostly overcast with occasional rain showers and daytime highs ranging between 14 and 18 degrees Celsius.
