Daily news summary

Plzeň officially launches year as European Capital of Culture

The West Bohemian City of Plzeň has officially launched its year as European Capital of Culture 2015. One of the main events marking the launch on Saturday was a “symphony of bells” in the city’s churches at 17:30. Other events being planned as part of the ongoing three-day festivities are a show on the main square náměstí Republiky involving a large video mapping project, acrobats, musicians and other artists. An extensive exhibition dedicated to legendary, locally-born animator Jiří Trnka also began on Saturday.

Developers planning to create new district on Prague’s Rohanský ostrov

Developers are planning to create a new district on the Prague island of Rohanský ostrov in the next 15 years. The director of the Sekyra Group told the Czech News Agency it plans to invest up to CZK 15 billion into the project on the borders of the city’s Karlín and Libeň districts. The firm expects to buy the site, measuring around 200,000 square metres, from the city for around CZK 1.7 billion before beginning construction in 2016. The island has been largely neglected since being submersed during flooding in 2002.

Government expected to reject bill compensating Ministry of Defence staff dismissed by communists

The government is likely to reject a bill put forward by a group of its own deputies to compensate former soldiers and Minister of Defence staff who were dismissed for political reasons in the communist era, the Czech News Agency reported. A preliminary position paper released ahead of a cabinet meeting on Monday says the proposal neglects other groups who were similarly treated by the former regime, including those in the education, security and judicial fields. Under the bill, drafted by MPs from all three coalition parties, the ex-soldiers and ministry officials would get an additional CZK 1,500 monthly in their old age pensions.

Czech ornithologists taking part in International Waterbird Census this weekend

Czech ornithologists are this weekend conducting a count of waterbirds as part of an annual International Waterbird Census being held for the 50th time. Environmentalists and scout groups are also taking part in the Czech census. As weather conditions are similar, the ornithologists expect the results to be in line with those for 2014, when a record number of sea ducks were registered; 110 greater scaups and 50 velvet scoters were seen, mainly at large Czech reservoirs.

Temperatures not expected to fall far below zero in next month

Temperatures in the Czech Republic are not expected to fall far below freezing point until between now and the middle of February, according to a monthly forecast issued on Saturday by the Czech Hyrdo-Meteorological Institute. Over the next four weeks daytime temperatures should range between minus 2 and plus three degrees Celsius, the forecasters said.

Musician Hrůza announces first tour since recovery from vicious attack

Popular rock musician Michal Hrůza has announced his first concert plans since sustaining a serious brain injury while attempting to stop a fight in Ostrava last July. The tour, entitled Michal Hrůza’s Night and Day, will get underway in Prague in March before visiting seven other Czech cities and towns. The singer-songwriter was hospitalised with a brain haemorrhage and concussion after being set upon by two men in the centre of Ostrava during the city’s Colours festival.

Veselý, 21, wins first ATP title in Auckland

The Czech tennis player Jiří Veselý has won the Heineken Open in Auckland, New Zealand for the first ATP title of his career. The 21-year-old, who entered the competition as a qualifier, beat Adrian Mannarino of France in Saturday’s final. The result means that Veselý is set to climb over 20 places to just outside the top 40 in the world rankings.