News
British paedophile arrested in Prague
Czech police on Tuesday arrested a dangerous paedophile from Britain, who is suspected of abusing underage girls, daily Právo reported. The 21-year old man is suspected of 16 criminal offences, including rape and making child pornography and faces life imprisonment in Britain. International warrant for his arrest was issued only three weeks ago. According to the police, it is unlikely that he committed any crime in the Czech Republic. The man has been taken to preliminary custody and is awaiting extradition to Britain.
Turkmenistan allows transit to Czech military plane
Czech military airplane flying to Afghanistan, which was denied transit over Turkmenistan on Friday, has left Prague again after receiving a written permit from Turkmen authorities. The plane is carrying Afghan children who were treated in the Czech Republic, soldiers who are returning from holiday back to the Afghan mission as well as part of a new contingent.
The Czechs were given a verbal promise on Friday that they could fly over Turkmenistan but the country’s authorities eventually refused to issue a written permit and the plane had to return to the Czech Republic. The plane took off from Prague’s Kbely airport once again on Saturday after it was given a written consent. Czech planes had encountered similar problems with Turkmen authorities in 2006 and 2007.
Czech Defence Minister present at US anit-missile system test
Czech Defence Minister Vlasta Parkanová was the first Czech politician to be present at the test of US anti-missile system in the Integration and Operations Centre at Schriever air force base, Colorado Springs. The US missile was launched from Kodiak base in Alaska, falling into the Pacific Ocean several hundred kilometres off the Mexican shore. Also present at the test was the Czech Ambassador to NATO Štefan Fuele, the army chief-of-staff Vlastimil Picek and several Czech journalists.
The US centre is to assess information on the radar base to be built roughly 70 kilometres southwest of Prague. Czech Ambassador to NATO said that it was likely the Czech Republic will have its own representative at the site in connection with a planned US radar base on Czech soil.
Vietnam stops sending workers to Czech Republic
Vietnam has suspended the sending of its workers to the Czech Republic due to complicated issuance of work visas at the Czech Embassy in Hanoi. Chairman of the Czech-Vietnamese Society Marcel Winter said applicants for work visas were encountering a number of problems. Prime Minister Mirek Topolánek said earlier this year that the Czech Republic and Vietnam were planning to create an expert group to settle the problem with the issuance of visas. More than 10,000 Vietnamese citizens came to work to the country in the first six months of this year.
Prague Folklore days underway in the Czech capital
The Czech capital is hosting a second annual international meeting of amateur folklore ensembles, called Prague Folklore days. Around 1300 musicians and dancers from more than 17 countries are participating this year. Around 50 ensembles paraded through Prague’s historical centre on Saturday. The festival will come to a close on Sunday.
17th International Music Festival starts in Český Krumlov
Friday saw the opening of the 17th International Music Festival taking place in and around the South Bohemian town of Český Krumlov. The festival opened with performances by the Prague Chamber Philharmonic and soloists from Metropolitan Opera New York. For the next six weeks, until August 23, visitors will be able to attend a total of 26 concerts with renowned artists such as American trumpeter Bobby Shew, Israeli clarinettist Sharon Kamm as well as the Oscar winning duo Markéta Irglová and Glen Hansard.
Hradecká advances to semi-finals
Czech tennis player Lucie Hradecká has beaten Austria’s Patricia Mayr 6:3, 6:1 on Saturday in Bad Gastein, and advanced to the first WTA semi-finals in her career. She will face Mariya Korytceva of Russia.
Czech tennis players advance to finals in Austria
The Czech pair of Andrea Hlaváčková and Lucie Hradecká have reached the finals in the doubles at a tournament in Austria’s Bad Gastein, after beating Chinese players 7:6 and 6:4. The two Czechs will take on Sesil Karatanceva from Bulgaria and Natasha Zoric from Serbia in the finals.
Brožková wins World Orienteering Championship
Czech Republic’s Dana Brožková on Saturday came first in the long distance at the World Orienteering Championships in Olomouc, securing the first gold medal in orienteering in the history of the Czech Republic. Norway’s Marianne Andersen came second, followed by Annika Billstam of Sweden.
Weather
The weekend is expected to be overcast with occasional sunny spells and daytime temperatures reaching highs of around 21 degrees Celsius.
