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The Czech president, Miloš Zeman, and a group of Czech veterans flew from Prague’s military airport on Friday to Normandy, France, to take part in events marking the 70th anniversary of D-Day – the invasion by the Allies in mainland Europe and a pivotal moment in the war. The president gave a speech prior to their departure in which he thanked the Czech WW II vets and stated that freedom was not something forever guaranteed but something that needed to be continually fought for. The event was accompanied by military music and a display of Czech and Czechoslovak army standards. Mr Zeman’s spokesman on international affairs said the president will speak to Russian President Vladimir Putin during his visit to Normandy.

An estimated 200,000 Czechs have left the country since 1989 and there could be up to 2.2 million people around the world of Czech origin. Experts at a conference of the EU’s Re-turn scheme said efforts should be made to tap the potential of Czechs living abroad and that their return to the country should be supported, the Czech News Agency said. Tomáš Grulich, the chairman of the Senate committee for Czechs abroad, said research had shown that such people wished to return; he said they were brave people who had to establish themselves abroad and that their loss was to the country’s detriment. The Czech Republic is one of seven countries involved in the Re-turn scheme.

The minister for human rights, Jiří Dienstbier, wants foreigners who live permanently in the Czech Republic to be allowed to vote, the news website Lidovky.cz reported. Under a plan put forward by Mr. Dienstbier the 200,000 foreigners with permanent residence would first be able to vote in local elections and then at the national level. At present only residents from EU countries can vote and then only in local elections. NGOs have welcomed the suggestion but politicians have reacted cautiously to the idea, Lidovky.cz wrote.

The great British rock guitar player Jeff Beck played a concert on the terrace of the Riding School of Prague Castle on Wednesday night. The eight-time Grammy winner, who is 70, performed a mainly instrumental set taking in a number of genres from blues to jazz fusion with a three-piece band. An estimated 1,200 fans attended the seated show at the sold-out venue, which started hosting occasional outdoor live music events last summer.