Daily news summary
First group of Christian refugees from Iraq arrives in Prague
The first group of ten Christian refugees from Iraq arrived at Prague's Václav Havel Airport on Sunday, the spokesman for the foundation Generace 21, which is financing most of the relocation project, told the Czech News Agency. The refugees will now be taken to a recreational centre Okrouhlík near Jihlava, where they will spend the next few months. Another group of about two dozen people are expected to arrive within the next few weeks.
Matěj Stropnický elected chairman of Green Party
Prague deputy Matěj Stropnický was elected chairman of the Green Party for the next two years at the Party's election conference in Prague on Saturday. Mr Stropnický won with 117 votes against Prague 4 mayor Petr Štěpánek with 97 and Jan Šlechta with six votes. The 32-year-old Stropnický, former deputy mayor of Prague, replaces Jana Drápalova, who was not defending the post. In his candidate speech, Mr Stropnický said that the Greens were a consolidated party respecting mutual diversity. He also said they were ready to once again become a real parliamentary party. Irena Moudrá Wünschová, a doctor from Ústí nad Labem, was elected the first deputy chairperson.
Ztraceni v Mnichově takes Czech Critics' Award for best film
Ztraceni v Mnichově (Lost in Munich) by Petr Zelenka took the Czech Film Critics' Award for Best Film at a ceremony at Prague's Archa Theatre on Saturday night. Zelenka also picked up the Best Screenplay and Best Director Awards. The award for best actors went to Alena Mihulová for her part in Domácí Péče (Home Care) and to Kryštof Hádek for his role in Kobry a užovky (Snake Brothers). Jana Ševčíková's Opři žebřík o nebe (Lean a Ladder Against Heaven) took the Best Documentary prize.
Tomáš Berdych reaches quarter-finals at Australian Open
Tomáš Berdych has reached the quarter-finals of the Australian Open for the sixth time in his career. The Czech men's tennis number one overcame Spain's Roberto Bautista 4:6, 6:4, 6:3, 1:6 a 6:3 on Saturday in a match that took more than three hours. Tomáš Berdych will next face the winner of the duel between Swiss Roger Federer and Belgium's David Goffin.
Speleologist saved in six-hour rescue operation in Moravský Kras
Paramedics took part in a six-hour rescue operation in a cave in Moravský kras on Saturday evening to save a speleologist who was injured at the bottom of the cave. The man, who explored the cave with a team of colleagues, bruised his ankle some 25 metres under ground. The rescuers had to widen one the cave's tunnel to be able to bring the man out and then they had to carry him through difficult and snowy terrain to a site accessible by ambulance.
Czech women's team comes second in World Cup relay
In biathlon, the Czech Republic's women’s relay team came in second at the World Cup event in Italy's Anterselva, reaching the podium for the first time this season. The Czechs performed poorly at the shooting range, but due to good skiing eventually finished just 17 seconds behind France.
