Daily news summary
President says more investment deals agreed during China visit
Czech President Miloš Zeman estimates that an initial wave of investment from China by Chinese firm CEFC amounts to around 10 billion crowns. He also confirmed that the chairman of the firm Ye Jianming had earlier been named an honorary presidential advisor. It was reported in Friday that the Chinese investment group CEFC will buy a 60 percent majority stake in the Slavia Prague football club. The daily Neovlivni cited former Czech minister and current head of the Czech-Chinese Chamber of Commerce, Jaroslav Tvrdík, who mediated the deal. The president said that additional investment deals had been mediated during his recent trip to China where he took part in celebrations marking the end of WW II and met with Russian President Vladimir Putin. On Sunday, Mr Zeman also discussed Europe's refugee crisis and expressed support for an anti-migration initiative launched by former president Václav Klaus.
Interior minister: Most refugees see Czech Republic purely as transit country
Around 60 Syrians have applied for asylum in the Czech Republic, Interior Minister Milan Chovanec has revealed from around 2,500 migrants who were detained in the Czech Republic over the course of the summer. The minister made the announcement after visiting a refugee centre near Brno and another in Poštorná. According to Minister Chovanec, it is evidence that the vast majority of migrants consider the Czech Republic merely a transit country. Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka, who also toured the sites, said the Czech Republic was on the edge of the main current of refugees arriving in Europe. The prime minister has called a meeting of the National Security Council on Thursday this week.
Klaus pages hacked
The website of a new anti-migration petition launched by former president Václav Klaus, have come under attack online from hackers; on Saturday alone there were reportedly some 20 attempts to breach the site's security. Petr Macinka, of the Václav Klaus Institute, said that security was being increased as well as some of the damage corrected, such as the addition of fake names to the list.
Fejk suggests there are untapped business opportunities in amusement parks with a difference
The former director of Prague Zoo Petr Fejk has said told news website iDnes about plans to launch a new amusement or theme park in the Czech Republic. In the interview he said such projects had potential not least because families often made plans for what to do on weekends but often ended up in shopping centres. Mr Fejk has plans for a park near Prague which would require around 200 million crowns in investment. Meanwhile, he criticised the construction of such parks in inappropriate areas or poorly-chosen locations. He added that the new centre needed to be in good taste, creative and to offer more than entertainment, suggesting, for example, that the Disneyland model would not work well in the Czech Republic.
Messerschmitt fighter plane one of main attractions at aviation show
A replica of the Germany's World War II Messerschmitt Me-262 plane was one of the biggest attractions on the first day of this year´s two-day international CIAF air show near Hradec Králové, orgnanisers confirmed. The plane has modern avionics and it was made in the United States ten years ago. Its owner is The Messerschmitt Foundation in Munich. Visitors at the event could also see a Belgian plane F-16 in original camouflage and a MIG-15 UTI, a BN-2 Islander, JAS-39 Gripens and L-159 planes. The Prague Military Institute, meanwhile, displayed drones that are mainly used by firefighters and police as well as farmers, foresters and Czech soldiers in the Afghan Province of Bagram.
Kvitová, Berdych only Czechs through to last 16 at US Open
Petra Kvitová and Tomáš Berdych are the only Czech tennis players to have reached the last 16 at the US Open; three others - Jiří Veselý, Petra Cetkovská, and Barbora Strýcová - all lost in matches on Saturday. Barbora Strýcová led 5:1 in the third and deciding set but was unable to prevent a comeback by Germany's Sabine Lisicki.
Kvitová defeated Slovak opponent Karolína Schmiedlová; Berdych defeated Guillermo Garcia-Lopez in four sets.
Czech Republic qualifies for EURO 2016
The Czech Republic secured a spot at EURO 2016 on Sunday with a 2:1 win over Latvia. They were aided by the fact in a separate match the Netherlands lost 3:0 to Turkey. In the first half, the Czechs got goals from Limberský and Darida. They led 2:0 until the 73rd minute when Latvia got on the scoreboard. Latvia then poured on additional pressure but were unable to get the equalizer. After the final whistle, goalkeeper Petr Čech told Czech TV the match - namely the second half - had been difficult but said that the Czech team deserved the result. The Czech Republic and Iceland, in top spot, both have 19 points in their group.
