Daily news summary
Anti Islam, immigration protests take place in Prague, Brno
Demonstrations against immigration, the EU, and Islam took place in Prague and the second city, Brno, on Saturday. The main demonstration in Prague against Islam and the EU attracted around 500 supporters. In the early afternoon in Prague there was a clash between supporters and opponents of immigration around Malá Strana when stones and bottles were thrown. Police intervened after a short delay. Police also said they detained one man who fired blanks with a gun. In Brno around 500 people demonstrated against immigration. The anti-Islam demonstration in Prague and Brno were part of a series of organised in Europe and even Australia. Prague police had called in reinforcements from the Ústí region ahead of the events. Some embassies have warned their citizens to stay away from the centre of Prague.
Slav Epic to go on show in Japan and China
The series of paintings by Alphonse Mucha the Slav Epic will during the first quarter of next year be exposed in Japan and from mid-2017 in China, where it will stay on show until May 2018. The agreements for both exhibitions have been sealed Prague City Council’s chairwoman of the culture committee, Eliška Kaplický Fuchsová told the ČTK news agency. Whether the series of 20 massive paintings continue onto South Korea and the US before returning to the Czech Republic is not yet clear.
Statistical office begins large scale survey of Czech living standards
The Czech Statistical Office on Saturday began a four month long survey which should shed a lot of light on Czech living standards and quality of life. Questionnaires will start to be delivered to around 11,000 families on February 6. They will ask about housing conditions, education, childcare, and work. The survey will last until June 5. Replies will be anonymous.
Gale warning issued for eastern Moravia on Sunday
The Czech weather office has issued a warning of high winds for the east of the country on Sunday. Winds of up to 90 km/hour on lower ground and up to 130 km/hour on mountain peaks are expected with the danger of falling trees and branches. The warning covers the Zlín, Olomouc, and Moravia-Silesia regions and lasts until 2300 hours on Sunday.
Chinese New Year celebrated in Prague
A two-day celebration of the Chinese year will take place at Prague’s exhibition grounds, Holešovice, starting Saturday. The event is being staged for the second year by the Czech-Chinese chamber. It will feature Chinese cinema, calligraphy, crafts, and sampling of Chinese cuisine.
Romania ties Fed Cup draw against Czech Republic 1:1
In tennis, the Czech Republic began the defence of their Fed Cup title with a 1:1 draw against Romania at the end of the first day’s play. Karolína Plíšková got the visitors off to a winning start after turning around the game against world number three Simona Halep. After losing the first set 6:7, Plíšková took the following sets 6:2, 6:4. Petra Kvitová though lost to Monica Niculescu 3:6, 4:6.
Kometa Brno coach resigns after heavy defeat
In ice hockey, the trainer of club Kometa Brno Alois Hadamczik resigned Friday evening after a 1:6 defeat against struggling Litvinov. It was the seventh defeat in the last eight matches. Brno had been tipped at the start of the season as one of the club’s with the biggest chances of winning the league. Hadamczik is a former coach of the Czech national team.
