Daily news summary
Parliament’s Budget Committee approves state budget proposal for 2017
Parliament’s Budget Committee has recommended the lower house approve the basic parameters of the state budget proposal for 2017. The budget put forward by the finance minister Andrej Babiš and approved by the government is counting on a 60 billion crown deficit. The committee turned down a proposal by TOP 09 leader Miroslav Kalousek who appealed for the proposal to be sent back to the government for changes; he said the government needed to slash spending next year by an additional 30 billion crowns or more.
Chovanec backs Zeman for second term
The interior minister and deputy chairman of the Social Democrats, Milan Chovanec, says he would support Miloš Zeman if he runs for a second term as Czech president in early 2018. Mr. Chovanec made the comment in an interview with Wednesday’s Právo, adding that he regarded Mr. Zeman – who previously led the party – as a Social Democrat. Mr. Zeman is a staunch critic of the Social Democrats’ leader Bohuslav Sobotka. After the last general elections Mr. Chovanec and a number of senior Social Democrats held secret talks with the president and then called on Mr. Sobotka to resign. He was the only member of the group to remain in the party leadership after the failed move.
Government approves CETA agreement between EU and Canada
The government on Wednesday approved the comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement, a free-trade agreement between the EU and Canada, the government spokesman Martin Ayrer said on his Twitter account. CETA could be signed and ratified on October 27 at the EU-Canada summit. The sectors that could benefit most from the CETA agreement in the Czech Republic are engineering, metallurgy and the chemical industry.
Najda Murad, at Prague conference, calls for prosecution of ISIS
Nadja Murad, a former captive of the terrorist organisation Islamic State and recipient of Václav Havel human rights award has called for the prosecution of ISIS for crimes against humanity. Speaking at a conference at Prague Crossroads cultural centre, the 23-year-old Iraqi woman said that after ISIS is defeated its members will continue to commit crimes elsewhere in the world within different groups. Mr Murad, who was kidnapped by ISIS and sold into sex slavery before fleeing to Germany, received the European Council award this week for bringing attention to the plight of the Yazidi people.
Škoda recorded best ever monthly worldwide sales in September
The country’s biggest car maker Škoda Auto has recorded its best ever monthly worldwide sales in September, the company announced on Wednesday in a press release. The carmaker sold 107,100 cars and recorded a year-on-year increase by 14.4 percent. Sales have increased both on the European market as well as in China. Škoda Octavia remains the best-selling model, with nearly 50,000 models sold in September.
Petr Čech included in Guinness Book of Record
Arsenal goalkeeper Petr Čech has been included in the Guinness Book of Records 2017 for the most clean sheets ever in the Premier League. During his 12 years in English football with Chelsea and now Arsenal, The 34-year-old former Czech international managed to keep exactly 181 clean sheets. Čech has also become the first player to win the Golden Gloves – most clean sheets in a season – with two different clubs.
Toothless Czechs draw blank with Azerbaijan in World Cup qualifier
The Czech Republic drew 0:0 with Azerbaijan in Ostrava on Tuesday night in a qualifier for the football World Cup in Russia in 2018. Coach Karel Jarolím made seven changes from the team that lost 3:0 to Germany at the weekend but the move brought no improvement up front. The Czechs have not scored any goals in three World Cup qualifiers and with only two points to date are second from bottom in their group.
Weather
Thursday is expected to see overcast skies and daytime temperatures hovering around seven degrees Celsius.
