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The Czech National Security Council met on Wednesday to discuss a broad security agenda, including a new long-term strategy for the armed forces and preparations for next month's NATO summit. President Petr Pavel also attended the talks and Prime Minister Andrej Babiš (ANO) said the meeting's agenda was so extensive that it could not be completed in a single session. The updated military strategy is expected to outline the development of the Czech Army through 2040. The council was also expected to discuss stricter rules for Russian diplomats entering Czechia from other Schengen countries.

The Czech national football team has arrived in Atlanta for its second group match at the FIFA World Cup, where it faces South Africa on Thursday. After opening the tournament with a 2–1 defeat to South Korea, coach Miroslav Koubek's side needs a victory to keep its hopes of reaching the knockout stage alive. Unlike the opening match in Guadalajara, the team will not have to adjust to high altitude. Defender Vladimír Coufal said the Czechs must improve their play on the ball, stay united and defend with determination if they are to avoid relying on other results later in the tournament.

The parties to a dispute over the TV broadcast of the film Broken Voices (Sbormistr) have agreed to a settlement, which was approved by a court. However, they cannot disclose the terms due to a non-disclosure agreement, Czech Television – one of the picture’s producers – said on its website.

Broken Voices, written and directed by Ondřej Provazník, was inspired by the case of the choirmaster of the Bambini di Praga ensemble Bohumil Kulínský, who was convicted of sexual abuse of underage members of the choir.

A former member said the story at the centre of the film resembled her own experiences as a minor and filed a lawsuit against the producers.In March a court blocked the television broadcast of the movie.

NATO summits in recent years have fallen victim to efforts not to anger the alliance’s most powerful member, the US, says Czech President Petr Pavel. He made the comment in a debate with members of the public in the town of Třebíč. Mr. Pavel said a forthcoming NATO summit in Turkey would benefit from a return to informal discussions between leaders; these achieve more than mere formal approval of pre-agreed matters, he said.

The president insists he should represent Czechia at the summit in Ankara in early July, in line with general custom. However, Prime Minister Andrej Babiš, who has previously expressed opposition to Mr. Pavel’s involvement, says a decision on who will make up the country’s delegation will be made on June 22.