Daily news summary
Prime minister meets with US House Speaker Paul Ryan
The prime minister in resignation Andrej Babiš met on Monday with Paul Ryan, the Speaker of the US House of Representatives. On the agenda was economic cooperation, cooperation in scientific fields and celebrations marking the 100th anniversary of the founding of Czechoslovakia.
The politician is in the Czech Republic on a two-day private visit. On Tuesday, he will address a special session of the lower house before attending a conference on Czech-US relations in the Senate.
The Speaker of the US House of Representatives is the highest US top official to visit the Czech Republic in nine years.
Preparatory ECOSOC meeting underway at Prague’s Černín Palace
A preparatory meeting for ECOSOC, the United Nations Economic and Social Council focussing on “sustainable, resilient and inclusive societies” got underway at Prague’s Černín Palace (the seat of the Czech Foreign Ministry) on Monday.
Representatives from 67 countries are taking part.
UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina J. Mohammed told journalists before the start of the event that attendees would be discussing possible solutions to ongoing international problems including climate change, migration and ongoing conflicts.
The Prague meeting is focussing on developmental goals in the UN’s Agenda 2030 which covers the biggest challenges facing global society.
Thousands sign appeal in support of Czech Television
More than 10,000 people have signed an appeal initiated by leading Czech film-makers in support of Czech Television in reaction to President Miloš Zeman's inauguration address attacking the public broadcaster and other media.
The appeal calls on politicians and other public personalities to resist the effort to eliminate the independence of the strongest public media outlet.
Oscar-winning film director Jan Svěrák first read out the appeal during the Czech Lion film award-giving ceremony in Prague's Rudolfinum concert hall two weeks ago.
It has since been signed by a number of well-known personalities from other fields as well as by hundreds of ordinary people.
Flu epidemic over
The number of patients ill with the flu in Prague has fallen below 1,000 cases per 100,000 residents, meaning that the most recent flu epidemic is over in the capital. Since last autumn, 67 patients had to be hospitalised due to flu-related health complications; 17 people died.
The news was confirmed by Prague’s Hygiene Office; the largest drop in the number of cases was in schoolchildren between the ages of six and 14.
Football: Czech squad comes third in China Cup
The national football squad finished third of four teams in the 2018 China Cup. After getting off to a losing start against Uruguay on Friday (2:0), the team downed hosts China 4:1, with all four of the Czech team’s goals coming in the second half.
China had opened the scoring in the fifth minute.
Wales face Uruguay in the final in Nanning on Monday.
Weather
Tuesday should be mostly cloudy with a chance of rain. Daytime temperatures are expected to reach highs of around 7 degrees Celsius.
