News

Martin Macík dominated stage five of the Dakar Rally, claiming his second stage win of this year’s event and strengthening his overall lead in the truck category. The Czech driver is now chasing a third consecutive Dakar victory.

In the car class, Martin Prokop set the third-fastest time of the day and moved up to tenth overall. Among the motorbikes, Milan Engel is currently the top Czech rider in 21st place overall.

Thursday’s stage marked the second part of the marathon leg of the 48th Dakar Rally. Competitors had no mechanical assistance and spent the night camping in the desert.

The Mayors and Independents party (STAN) has called on the Czech government to join an initiative by seven European countries defending Greenland.

Former minister for European affairs Martin Dvořák said backing the joint statement would be the right step, a view also shared by President Petr Pavel. Prime Minister Andrej Babiš, however, said dialogue was more important than declarations.

In their joint statement, the seven European leaders said Greenland belongs to its people and that only Denmark and Greenland can decide on matters affecting their relationship. The declaration followed comments by US President Donald Trump about the United States wanting Greenland.

The leaders also said security in the Arctic must be ensured collectively, in cooperation with NATO allies, including the United States.

Wednesday night was the coldest so far this winter in Czechia, with several long-standing temperature records broken.

According to the Czech Hydrometeorological Institute, the average minimum temperature at stations below 600 metres was around minus twelve and a half degrees Celsius. Six stations with more than thirty years of measurements recorded new lows.

The coldest spot was Kvilda in the Šumava mountains, where temperatures dropped to minus 29.6 degrees Celsius, just short of a record.

Forecasters say freezing conditions will continue overnight into Friday, with snow expected across parts of Czechia.

President Petr Pavel and his wife Eva will visit the Vatican on Monday, January 19, where they will be received by Pope Leo the Fourteenth, the presidential office announced on Thursday. President Pavel will also meet the Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin.

Pope Leo the Fourteenth was elected last May. President Pavel later invited him to visit Czechia, saying he believed the new pope would be a strong voice for those facing oppression, injustice and suffering caused by unjust aggression.

Last year, President Pavel also criticised a treaty between Czechia and the Vatican on the status of the Catholic Church. In a submission to the Constitutional Court, he said the agreement was unconstitutional and granted the Church a privileged position. A group of senators asked the court to review the treaty last March over possible human rights concerns.