Daily news summary
Defence Minister: army contract for US helicopters to be signed by end of year
The Czech Army’s contract for a supply of 12 military helicopters from US maker Bell should by signed by the end of the year. The Minister of Defence, Lubomír Metnar, made the announcement on Saturday at the NATO Days and Czech Airforce Days military show in Mošnov Ostrava.
The deal priced at 14.5 billion crowns includes eight utility Venom helicopters and four attack Viper helicopters. The US producer Bell should supply them in 2023. Mr. Metnar said the ministry was in the phase of finalising the contract.
NATO Days airshow underway in Ostrava
The annual NATO Days and Czech Airforce Days military show got underway at the Mošnov airfield near Ostrava on Saturday.
This year’s edition of the event, which is one of the largest military air shows in Europe, will commemorate 70 years since the foundation of the NATO and 20 years since the Czech Republic’s accession to the alliance.
The festival, which runs until Sunday, features demonstrations of combat and rescue equipment, including the American C-5 Super Galaxy transport aircraft. Among the biggest attractions are several aerobatic shows.
Most expensive painting by Kupka on display in Opočno
Dozens of people attended the launch of an exhibition of František Kupka’s painting, entitled Plochy příčné II (Diagonal Surfaces II), at the Opočno castle in East Bohemia.
The painting will be on display for only two days before returning to its owner, a private collector. In May this year, the painting sold at an auction for 78 million crowns, setting a new Czech art auction record.
The 1923 oil on canvas is a pure example of geometric abstraction and is said to be among the most important works by František Kupka.
Different City Experience outdoor festival gets underway
The 14th edition of the annual festival Zažít město jinak or Different City Experience, billed as a celebration of public space, has begun in 85 places in Prague and 30 other Czech towns and cities.
The civic association Auto*Mat is the main coordinator of the street festival project but individual programmes are organised by local associations, cafés, arts organisations and individuals.
Thousands take part in rubbish clean up across Czech Republic
Thousands of volunteers are taking part in the massive clean up operation around the Czech Republic. The event, called Let’s Clean up the Czech Republic, is organized by the Czech Union of Nature Conservation on the occasion of the World Clean-Up Day.
Some 65,000 volunteers took part in the spring edition of the rubbish clearance. They collected over 1,100 tonnes of garbage and nearly 18,000 car tires.
Tennis: Karolína Muchová reaches Seoul finals
Czech tennis player Karolína Muchová has avanced to the finals of the Korea Open after defeating Wang Yafan of China 7-6, 6-4 in two hours and two minutes.
The Czech No. 5 is having her career-best season, having reached her maiden WTA final in Prague in May and a Grand Slam quarterfinal debut at Wimbledon.
Weather
Sunday will be mostly sunny, with daytime highs ranging between 18 and 22 degrees Celsius.
