Daily news summary

Germany officially asked for readmission of refugees who refused asylum in Czech Republic

The German authorities have sent the Czech Interior Ministry an official request for the readmission of the 25 Iraqi refugees who refused asylum in the Czech Republic and moved to Germany on Saturday in order to apply for it there. The ministry’s spokeswoman, Lucie Nováková, said the authorities were currently assessing the documents, refusing to give any further details. The refugees came to the Czech Republic within a government-supported relocation programme for 150 Christian refugees from Iraq, organised by the NGO Generation 21.

Government cancels relocation programme for 150 Iraqi refugees

A government-supported relocation programme for 150 Christian refugees from Iraq has been cancelled, the Czech News Agency reported on Thursday. The Minister of Interior, Milan Chovanec, had previously suspended the programme after an eight-member-family decided to return to their homeland and 25 others unexpectedly moved to Germany over the weekend. To this date, 89 refugees came to the Czech Republic within the relocation project, which was initiated and financed by the NGO Generation 21.

Group to press charges against state for human rights violation

A group of people associated with former minister of human rights, Michael Kocáb, wants to press charges against the state for human rights violation during the recent visit of the Chinese president Xi Jinping to Prague. The signatories, which include former Environment Minister Martin Bursík, lawyer Hana Marvanová and filmmaker Břetislav Rychlík, claim that the police and the City Hall were acting in violation of the constitution when they dispersed a demonstration is support of human rights.

Iraqi Christians quit Brno to return to homeland

A group of eight Iraqi Christians left Brno on Thursday heading for Prague and their homeland. The group, five adults and three children, has decided to leave the Czech Republic after earlier being offered asylum and help from the Charity Generation 21 to settle in their new country. An organiser for the charity said they were homesick. The remaining 16 Iraqis settled in Brno have decided to remain. They will soon be moved from a hostel in the city to a series of flats set aside for them in the city.

Social Democrats approve loan to pay off massive legal bill

Leaders of the main governing party, the Social Democrats, have agreed to take out a 338 million crown loan to pay off fees and penalties to a lawyer who represented the party. The lawyer, Zdeňek Altner, represented the party in a former ownership battle over its Prague headquarters. Disagreements later broke out over the fees to be paid and penalties resulting from the original agreement in 1997 resulted in a court demanding the party pay 337 million crowns by Monday. The party has already agreed on saving this year of around 55 million crowns, including curbed spending on Senate and regional elections in the fall. The party executive must approve the loan when it meets Saturday.

Czech President bestows White Lion on former German ambassador Trauttmansdorff

Czech President Miloš Zeman has granted the country’s highest state distinction, The Order of the White Lion, to the former Austrian ambassador to the Czech Republic, Ferdinand Trauttmansdorff, the president’s spokesman, Jiří Ovčáček, said on Thursday. Mr Trauttmansdorff received the award for his contribution to the development of Czech-Austrian relations. On Monday, Mr Zeman is scheduled to meet his Austrian counterpart Heinz Fischer, who will arrive in the Czech Republic for an official visit.

Vladimír Vochoč to be named Righteous among the Nations in memoriam

More than 30 years after his death, Czech Vladimír Vochoč will be recognised as the “Righteous among the Nations”, which is the highest Israeli tribute to non-Jews who saved the lives of Jews during the Second World War. The former Czechoslovak consular official in Marseille issued false visas and passports to Jews and anti-Nazis who wanted to escape from Marseilles to Spain and Portugal. Altogether 115 Czechs have received the “Righteous among the Nations” tribute to date.

Czech National Bank spent 17 billion crowns in February intervening against crown

The Czech National Bank spent 17 billion crowns in February intervening on the forex market against the firming crown, according to data released by the bank on Wednesday. The bank launched the interventions in November 2013 with the aim to keep the crown's rate below 27 crowns to the euro. From then until February the Czech National Bank spent around 520 billion crowns on the interventions.

Over 40 children taken to hospital after suffering stomach problems

Over 40 children, who were on a school trip in Žihle in the Plzeň region, had to be taken to hospital in the early hours of Thursday after suffering severe stomach pains and diarrhoea, while others were treated on the spot. More than ten ambulances were called to the facility, which accommodated over 200 children. Hygiene officers are now carrying out tests to reveal the nature of the infection.

Thirteen people die at rail crossings in first quarter of this year

Thirteen people were killed on rail crossings in the first quarter of this year, which is the highest figure in the last six years, according to the figures released by the Czech Rail Safety Inspection o Thursday. The number of accidents has increased as well, by 50 percent year-on-year. Altogether 48 accidents took place on rail crossings between January and March this year, which is the highest figure for the given period since 2012.

Czech breweries saw record production last year

Czech breweries recorded the highest beer production in history last year, for the first time increasing the level of production beyond 20 million hectolitres. The figures represented an increase by 2.2 on the previous year, the Czech Beer and Malt Association said on Thursday. Czech beer exports increased by 13.4 percent to 4.14 million hectolitres, while the import of beer increased by 7.3 percent. Domestic consumption of beer per person dropped by one litre in 2015 to 143 litres.

New born elephant introduced to zoo visitors

Visitors to Prague zoo had a first chance on Thursday to see the baby elephant, which was born in the zoo on Tuesday. It is the first elephant to be both bred and born at the zoo in its 82 year history. The baby is said to be in good condition and has already started to make contact with other members of the herd. So far, the elephant is kept inside the pavilion but it could be let out into the elephant paddock next week.