Daily news summary
PM Sobotka attends 16+1 summit in Riga
Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka is attending a two-day summit of the Prime Ministers of China and Eastern European Countries, which got underway in Riga on Saturday. Mr Sobotka has met with the prime ministers of the Balkan States to discuss the migrant crisis and the accession of Serbia and Macedonia to the European Union. The Czech prime minister said the Czech Republic will continue to support the Western Balkans in the EU accession talks. Mr Sobotka has also met with his Latvian counterpart Maris Kucinskis, who organizes the summit.
WWII veteran Stanislav Hnělička dies at 94
Second World War veteran Stanislav Hnělicka who fought the Axis armies at Tobruk has died at the age of 94, the Foreign Ministry informed on its website on Friday. Mr Hnělička, who fought in exile and was wounded at Dunkirk, received a number of awards during his lifetime, including the country's highest honour, the Order of the White Lion as well as the French Legion of Honor, the highest French order for military and civil merits.
Czech director begins shooting film about Milada Horáková
Czech US-based director David Mrnka has started filming a feature film about Milada Horáková, a Czechoslovak democratic MP executed by the communists in 1950, who has become a symbol of resistance to Czechoslovakia's Communist regime. The main role will be played by Israeli actress Ayelet Zurer, who starred in Steven Spielberg's Munich. Czech actress Anna Geislerová will appear in the role of the infamous communist prosecutor Ludmila Brožová. The shooting of “Milada” will take place mainly in Prague and Terezín. The film will be shot in English and subsequently dubbed in Czech.
Average temperatures expected in next four weeks
Temperatures in the Czech Republic should remain below the average for the time of year in the next week, according to a regularly monthly weather forecast issued by the Czech Hydro-Meteorological Institute. Snowfall and rainfall levels are also expected to be above average in the next week. The long-term average for the period from November 7 to December 4 is 2.8 degrees Celsius, with day-time lows dropping as low as -3 degrees Celsius.
Berdych knocked out of Paris Masters quarter-finals
Czech tennis player Tomáš Berdych was knocked out of the Paris Masters on Friday night after losing to Andy Murray in the quarter-finals 7-6, 7-5. The defeat puts Berdych out of contention for the eighth and final place in the ATP World Tour Finals that start in London on Monday week. It is the first time the Czech failed to reach the prestigious tournament since 2010. Meanwhile, Andy Murray has a chance to replace Djokovic as world No1 if wins his semi-final on Saturday against Milos Raonic.
Tennis: Petra Kvitová books spot in Zhuhai final
Czech tennis player Petra Kvitova has advanced to the final of the WTA Elite Trophy in Zhuhai on Sunday after defeating home hope and Chinese No.1 Zhang Shuai 6-2, 6-2. The Czech player will face Elina Svitolina of Ukraine in the final.
Czechs beat Finland 5:3 in Karjala Cup
In ice hockey, the Czech team beat Finland 5:4 in the second Karjala Cup tie in Helsinki on Saturday night. Five goals came from Holík, Polášek, Jeřábek, Rutta and Radil. The Czech team will face Russia in the final game on Sunday. In the last three Karjala Cup competitions, in which Finland also plays, the Czechs have come in the last, fourth, place.
