Daily news summary
PM willing to look into the possibility of helping 50 Syrian orphans
Prime Minister Andrej Babiš has tasked Czech NGOs with selecting 50 Syrian orphans which the country could help. Following widespread criticism of his refusal to accept 50 child migrants, Babis met with Czech MEP Michaela Šojdrová, who first floated the idea, and agreed to look into the possibilities.
However both the prime minister and the MEP interpret the outcome of the meeting differently. Šojdrová says that Babiš promised to take in 50 Syrian child migrants if there were no bureaucratic hurdles on the road and if Czech families were willing to give them a home.
The prime minister maintains that if the MEP manages to produce such a list, it would be best to help the selected children in their home country.
Babiš has accused Šojdrová of leading a smear campaign against him ahead of the local and Senate elections due to take place in two weeks’ time.
Eleven Czech cities join Car Free Day
Eleven Czech cities joined World Car Free Day on Saturday, an international event celebrated on September 22 in which people are encouraged to leave their cars at home for the day and use more environmentally-friendly means of transport.
Several hundred European cities joined in the event. In the Czech Republic it was Prague, Hradec Králové and Jihlava, among others.
Václav Havel Library to publish memoirs of Havel’s father
The Václav Havel Library is publishing the memoirs of Václav M. Havel, the father of the late Czech president Václav Havel. The book tells the life story of the successful builder, engineer, and businessman who completed Lucerna Palace and the Barrandov studios. The book-launch is scheduled for September 25th.
Primary schoolboy distributed deadly drug
Police have revealed that the deadly synthetic drug which killed two people in Moravia was distributed by a boy in primary school, among others. As a minor he will not be prosecuted.
The boy gave the drug to a 15-year-old friend who ended up in hospital. 23 people were treated for intoxication after taking the synthetic marihuana-type drug. Eleven people have been charged in connection with the case.
Windstorm hits Prague and eastern Bohemia
A windstorm battered eastern Bohemia on Friday night, damaging roofs, trees and bringing down power lines in places. One man was injured by the roof of a pergola which was torn away by the wind.
Fire-fighters were out all night responding to 86 emergency call in the region and clearing roads from fallen branches.
A storm also swept through Prague in the late evening, with fire-crews responding to 50 calls within the space of an hour.
Karolína Plíšková reaches final in Tokyo
No.4 seed Karolína Plíšková has reached the final at the Toray Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo after beating Donna Vekic 6-2, 4-6, 6-3 in a gruelling match that lasted 2 hours and five minutes.
“I don’t think my serve was great,” Plíšková said. “I was getting tired from the match, so I was not as fast as I wanted to be. But I won and that’s what counts.”
Plíšková will now take on US Open champion Naomi Osaka as she seeks her second title of the season.
Weather forecast
Sunday should bring overcast skies and rain around the country with day temperatures between 12 and 16 degrees Celsius.
