Daily news summary
PM Sobotka meets with his Chinese counterpart in Riga
Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka has met with his Chinese counterpart Li Keqiang during the 16+1 summit of the Prime Ministers of China and Eastern European Countries in Riga. He told journalists after the meeting on Saturday that Beijing’s last minute ban on agriculture minister Marian Jurečka heading a delegation to the country has not been on the agenda of their ten-minute talk. The two countries have also signed a plan for bilateral cooperation within the Silk Road project.
President Zeman says culture minister should leave government
Culture Minister Daniel Herman should leave the government, president Miloš Zeman said in an interview for the website Parlamentní listy published on Sunday. Mr Zeman said the culture minister had harmed state interests, referring to his meeting with the Dalai Lama. The president did not rule out that he would discuss the matter with Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka during their meeting on Tuesday. The president has also accused Mr Herman of lying about being threatened not to meet with the Dalai Lama.
Fifteen cases of Zika recorded in Czech Republic
The National Institute of Public Health has registered 16 cases of Zika virus infection in the Czech Republic. So far, some 800 people have undergone the tests, Hana Zelená of the Ostrava Institute told the Czech News Agency on Sunday. The tests have also detected presence of antibodies against the airborne virus in another 15 people. There are no Olympics or Paralympics athletes among the infected.
Animal rights activists protest against fur farms
Several hundred animal rights activists have staged a protest march through the centre of Prague demanding a ban on fur farms. Some of the participants were wearing costumes of animals which they claim live in poor conditions, such as foxes or mink. The protest was organised by the animal rights group OBRAZ. On Tuesday, the lower house of Parliament is scheduled to debate a draft bill envisaging a ban on the setting up of new fur farms as of 2017, which would force existing ones to close a year after that.
Meteorologists warn of ice on roads
Meteorologists have warned of ice on roads around the Czech Republic between Sunday night and Monday morning. According to the weather forecast, rain is expected to fall around most of the country on Sunday, gradually changing into snow in the mountain regions. Šumava mountains could see up to ten centimetres of fresh snow.
Czechs beaten by Russia in Karjala Cup final match
In ice hockey, the Czech team failed to secure a victory at the Finish Karjala Tournament. The Czechs were defeated by Russia 3:0 in the final match in Helsinki’s Hartwall Arena on Sunday. In the last three Karjala Cup competitions, the Czechs have come in the last, fourth, place.
Petra Kvitova wins WTA Elite Trophy
Czech tennis player Petra Kvitova has won the WTA Elite Trophy, after defeating Elina Svitolina of Ukraine 6-4, 6-2 in Zhuhai on Sunday. It is a second WTA victory in this season for the 26-year old Czech, who also picked up a title at Wuhan Open.
