Daily news summary
Night Wolves motorcycle gang drove through Prague
The controversial motorcycle gang the Night Wolves staged a ride through Prague on Saturday. Some 80 members of the controversial gang, who are travelling through the Czech Republic on their annual ride from Moscow to Berlin to mark the end of WWII, drove through the Czech capital, crossing the Wenceslas Square. The ride has been approved by Prague City Hall. Dozens of people have gathered on the square prior to the event to protest against it. Some of them attempted to prevent the bikers from passing by blocking their way. However, the event passed off without any major incidents.
Over 5,000 people took part in marihuana march through Prague
More than 5,000 people took part in a march through the centre of Prague in favour of the legalisation of marihuana in the Czech Republic on Saturday. The march culminated with a happening at Letná park. The ‘Million Marihuana March’ took place in the Czech capital already for the nineteenth time. Dozens of police were out in force to accompany the event and maintain order. Marihuana is legal for the treatment of certain medical conditions but possession of more than a small amount is still an offence.
Offices of criminal police investigators wiretapped: Právo
Offices of Prague criminal police investigators have been wiretapped, the daily Právo wrote on Saturday. According to the the daily, certain offices have been surveilled by hidden cameras. The wiretapping allegedly concerns a team investiating the scandal surrounding EU funds for the Stork’s Nest farm and conference centre of ANO leader Andrej Babiš. According to the Czech Television, the finding could also be linked to the case of Jana Nečasová, the wife of ex-prime minister Petr Nečas, who was charged with abuse of power.
Victims of communism commemorated at Motol
A commemorative ceremony for victims of the communist regime took place at Motol cemetery in Prague on Saturday. The event, organised by the Confederation of Former Political Prisoners, was attended by the Minister of Culture Daniel Herman and Prague Mayor Adriana Krnáčová, who laid wreathes at the memorial to the victims of communism. Motol cemetery was one of the places where those who died at the hands of the communists were secretly buried in mass graves. The existence of the mass grave was only discovered after the fall of communism.
Prague Spring concerts to be broadcast live in cinemas across Czech Republic and Slovakia
For the first time in history, concerts of the Prague Spring International Music Festival will be broadcast live in cinemas around the Czech Republic and Slovakia as well as on a giant outdoor screen on Kampa Island. The 71st edition of Prague Spring gets underway on June 3. However, a prologue to the festival takes place on Saturday at Prague's Rudolfinum with a performance by Korean pianist Seong-Jin Cho.
Average temperatures expected in May
Temperatures in the Czech Republic in the next four weeks should be average for the time of the year. According to a long-term forecast by the Czech Hydro-Meteorological Institute issued on Saturday, we can expect day temperatures around 20 degrees Celsius in the coming weeks, which is normal or slightly above the average for May. Rainfall levels over the next four weeks should also be average for the time of year. The highest levels of precipitation can be expected in the last week of the month.
Czechs beat Russia in opening game of Ice Hockey World Championship
The Czech Republic beat Russia 3-0 in their opening game of the Ice Hockey World Championship in Moscow on Friday. Tomáš Kundrátek and Roman Červenka secured a 2-0 lead in the opening period, while Michal Birner added an empty-netter in the final seconds of the game. Goaltender Dominik Furch, who made his debut wth the national team, made 25 saves. The Czech team will face Latvia in the next game.
