Daily news summary
Soňa Machová to lead Czech team in Brexit talks
Economist Soňa Machová is to replace Tomáš Prouza as the government’s commissioner for EU affairs, the daily Lidové noviny reported on Thursday. Machová’s main task will be to coordinate the work of the Czech team involved in the Brexit talks. The Czech prime minister said on Wednesday the Czech Republic would primarily seek to protect the rights of Czechs living and working in the UK and aim for a deal that would prevent exports and jobs being placed in jeopardy.
Police detain 300 foreigners across Czech Republic
Police have detained 262 foreigners who worked in the Czech Republic illegally and another 31 who illegally resided in the country, Interior Minister Milan Chovanec announced at a press conference on Thursday. He also said the deportation procedures had already started. Over 1,200 policemen, including police officers from Germany and Poland, took part in the three-day operation. They also discovered five people, who were wanted by police. Mr Chovanec said the number of detained foreigners was very high, adding that the ministry will continue to carry out similar operations in the future.
President Zeman invites his Austrian counterpart to visit Czech Republic
President Miloš Zeman has invited his Austrian counterpart Alexander Van der Bellen to visit the Czech Republic. In a letter to Mr van der Bellen, the Czech president said he believed they would find common interests and contribute to a successful cooperation between the Czech Republic and Austria. He would like to welcome him at Prague Castle in Spring this year. During the Austrian presidential campaign last year, Miloš Zeman openly supported Van der Bellen’s rival, the far-right candidate Norbert Hofer.
Court rules Bouzov Castle will remain in state ownership
The regional court in Olomouc has ruled that Bouzov castle in Moravia will remain in state ownership. The judge rejected an appeal by a German Catholic order against the Czech National Heritage Institute, which refused to hand the castle over within the church restitution process back in 2014. The court upheld the stand of the Heritage Institute which argued that the restitution law did not apply to that particular property.
Jakub Hrůša appointed guest conductor of London Philharmonia Orchestra
Czech conductor Jakub Hrůša has been appointed one of the two principal guest conductors at the London Philharmonia Orchestra, his agency IMG Artists announced on Thursday. Hrůša, along with Santtu Matias Rouvali from Finland, will take up their shared roles at the start of the 2017/18 season and will be the first conductors to hold the post since the death of Sir Charles Mackerras in 2010. Hrůša has been guest conductor at the orchestra since his debut in 2011.
Number of cars without exhaust filter increased by 45,000 in 2016
The number of cars without an exhaust particle filter or with a filter which is damaged increased last year by nearly 45,000 vehicles, according to data released by the Czech Roadside Assistance Organisation on Thursday. Altogether there are up to one million cars without a filter in the Czech Republic. Since 2004, all diesel vehicles are required to have a diesel particulate filter, but the owners often remove it to increase the car’s output. Recent measurements showed that concentration of dust particles on Prague’s main roads exceeded the permitted norms several fold.
Weather
Friday is expected to be sunny with daytime temperatures ranging between 19 and 23 degrees Celsius.
