Daily news summary
European Court of Justice: Czechs had no right to detain Kurdish migrants
The European Court for Justice has ruled that holding a Kurdish family which was trying to get to Germany from Hungary in a detention centre in the Czech Republic was illegal. According to the court, the Czech authorities did not have the legal right to prevent the refugees from trying to get to another EU member state. The family fled Iraq because of persecution from Islamic State. They were detained in Hungary where they applied for asylum but a few days later they left trying to get to Germany. Under the so-called Dublin regulation, detention is possible only in case of the risk that t the person in question will go into hiding.
Around 600 people demonstrate in Prague against tightened gun rules
Around 600 people gathered on Wenceslas Square in Prague on Wednesday to protest against stricter European gun rules. Among the people who attended the event was former justice minister and current European Parliament deputy Jiří Pospíšil, who said the government should take the proposed changes to the European Court for Justice. The European parliament approved the tightening of gun rules on Tuesday, with all Czech MEPs voting against it.
Rudolf Jindrák appointed Czech president’s former chief foreign policy adviser
Rudolf Jindrák, former Czech ambassador to Germany, has been appointed the Czech president’s former chief foreign policy adviser. Mr Jindrák will replace Hynek Kmoníček, the upcoming Czech ambassador to the United States, who flew to the US on Wednesday. Among Mr Kmoníček’s first tasks in Washington will be to prepare the way for Zeman’s planned trip to see US president Donald Trump in April.
Telefonujici.cz: Czech mobile phone tariffs up to 79 percent higher than EU average
Tariffs of mobile phone operators in the Czech Republic are up to 79 percent higher than the EU average, according to the data of the organisation telefonujici.cz, released on Wednesday. According to telefonujici.cz, the main reasons behind the excessive prices include two-year contracts, high margins, the absence of a fourth major operator, as well as massive price difference offered by operators to corporate and ordinary users.
Four new ambassadors to Czech Republic to assume their office
Four new ambassadors to the Czech Republic are set to present their credentials to President Miloš Zeman on Wednesday, the president’s spokesman Jičí Ovčáček told the Czech News Agency. The new diplomats include Israeli ambassador Daniel Meron, French ambassador Roland Galharague, Ukraine’s Yevgen Perebyinis and Mongolian ambassador Njama Naranbat. After the ceremony at Prague Castle, the ambassadors can officially assume their office.
New Škoda Kodiaq named car of year in Czech Republic
The Škoda Kodiaq has been named car of the year in the Czech Republic. The recently launched Czech-made SUV placed first in the annual poll of journalists and members of the public run by the Car Importers Association. The Kodiaq finished ahead of the Volkswagen Tiguan and Volvo V90 in the survey, which was being conducted for the 23rd time.
Weather
Thursday is expected to be partly cloudy with daytime highs ranging between 10 to 14 degrees Celsius.
