Daily news summary
Presidential election dates to be declared on Wednesday
Czechs should learn on Wednesday the precise dates when they should take part in presidential elections. Head of the upper house, the Senate, Milan Štech, says he will announce the dates on Wednesday. The second series of direct presidential elections must take place at the latest by January 19 and 20. A second round follows as a head-off between the best placed candidates from the first round. Current incumbent Miloš Zeman, who triumphed in 2013, has said he will stand again in the elections.
Czech Republic seeks Brexit boost to Japanese investment
The Czech Republic has the chance to increasingly position itself as Japan’s gateway to the European Union after the United Kingdom’s withdrawal from the EU, the Ministry of Trade and Industry suggested following a visit by Japan’s Minister for Economy, Trade and Industry, Hiroshige Seko. Seko met with his Czech counterpart Jiří Havlíček. The car industry, IT, defence, glassmaking, and food products were identified as areas for possible increased cooperation between the countries. Around 250 Japanese companies have already established themselves in the Czech Republic. Britain was previously one of the major gateways for Japanese investment in Europe.
Czechia and Jordan to cooperate in nuclear energy
The Czech Republic and Jordan on Tuesday agreed to cooperate in a peaceful development of nuclear energy. The agreement was signed on Monday during a visit of Jordan’s Prime Minister Hani Mulki to Prague. According to Czech Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka, it will enable better cooperation in science and research and allow Czech firms to participate on construction of nuclear reactors in Jordan. During their meeting, the Czech and Jordanian prime ministers have also discussed humanitarian aid, trade and problems in the Middle East.
Constitutional Court highlights prisoners’ parental rights
The Czech Republic’s Constitutional Court has ruled in its recent verdict that prisoners have right to maintain contact with their children.
The Constitutional Judge overruled a previous verdict issued by a District Court in Brno, which severed ties between a father and his children when the father was imprisoned. It argued that visits to prison would be too traumatic for them. The Constitution Judge stressed in his ruling that prisoners don’t lose their rights to be a parent.
Czech tourist drowns in Cyprus
A Czech tourist has drowned in the sea near the Ayia Napa resort in Cyprus on Monday afternoon, the daily Cyprus Mail informed on Tuesday. The 59-year-old Czech was found unconscious by lifeguards in the sea off the Aya Thekla beach. Police have ruled out foul play as no external injuries were detected.
Public banned from parts of Šumava
Management of the Šumava National park has issued a ban on public access to parts of the park following heavy storms over the weekend, which felled hundreds of trees. According to the park’s authorities, there is a danger of more trees falling.
The area most affected by the storms is in the southern part of the park in the region of Prachatice, where there are many paths and cycling routes. The clean-up operation is expected to take weeks.
Weather
Wednesday is expected to be mostly sunny with daytime temperatures ranging between 21 and 25 degrees Celsius.
