Daily news summary
Filip: Babiš to name ministers after Zeman-Poche meeting
ANO’s prime minister-designate Andrej Babiš will not announce the names of the ministers in his planned cabinet until after a meeting between President Miloš Zeman and the Social Democrats’s choice nominee for the foreign affairs portfolio, Miroslav Poche. That’s according to Communist leader Vojtěch Filip, who was speaking prior to a meeting with Mr. Babiš on Tuesday evening.
ANO and the Social Democrats are attempting to form a minority coalition supported by the Communists on key votes. However, ANO, the Communists and the president are against Mr. Poche’s nomination. Mr. Zeman is due to meet Mr. Poche and other cabinet nominees on Friday.
The Social Democrats’ leader Jan Hamáček and Mr. Babiš also met on Tuesday evening but refused to comment on their discussion afterwards.
Foreign Ministry: Czechs lose important partner in UNHCR
The US decision to pull out of the United Nations Human Rights Council means that the Czech Republic is losing an important partner in protection of human rights and freedoms, Irena Valentová of the Czech Foreign Ministry’s press department told the Czech News Agency on Wednesday.
According to the ministry, the Czech Republic shares some of Washington’s concerns over the functioning of the council, but it wants to remain a member to take part in its reform.
The US on Wednesday withdrew from the United Nations Human Rights Council, calling it hypocritical and self-serving and accusing it of political bias against Israel.
Czech car makers’ turnover reaches over one trillion crowns
Czech car companies and car-parts suppliers saw record turnover last year amounting to 1.1 trillion crowns (around 39 billion euros), which represents an increase by seven percent on the previous year, the Czech Automotive Industry Association announced at a press conference on Wednesday.
Czech car makers’ exports increased by six percent last year to 918 billion crowns. Some 84 percent of cars made in the Czech Republic are exported to the EU, mainly to Germany, Great Britain and France.
Rollando Villazón to perform at charity event in Prague
Mexican opera singer Rollando Villazón is set to perform in the Spanish Hall of Prague Castle on Wednesday evening in support of the non-profit organisation Zdravotní klaun. The world-famous tenor, who is an ambassador of the Red Noses International charity organisation, will perform free of charge. The event’s proceedings will be used for the activities of healthcare clowns in the Czech Republic.
Four Przewalski horses transported to Mongolia
A Czech military plane has transported four Przewalski mares to Mongolia for reintroduction into the wild, part of Prague Zoo’s long-standing programme to save the endangered species. The horses arrived in Mongolia on Wednesday morning.
Przewalski horse is a rare subspecies native to Mongolia, which became extinct in the wild in the 1960s. Prague Zoo has played a major role in saving the horse, breeding it and gradually returning it to its natural environment.
To date, the zoo has sent 31 horses to a nature reserve in the Mongolian steppe, where they have started breeding successfully.
David Pastrňák again named ice hockey player of year
David Pastrňák has been presented with the Golden Hockey Stick for best Czech ice hockey player of the year for the second time in a row. The Boston Bruins forward, who is 22, finished ahead of Jakub Voráček of the Philadelphia Flyers in the annual poll. In 2017 Pastrňák was the youngest ever recipient of the award.
This year’s was the 50th edition of the Golden Hockey Stick. Jaromír Jágr has won it most times, with 12.
Weather
Thursday is expected to be mostly sunny with occasional showers and storms. Daytime highs will range between 28 and 32 degrees Celsius.
