Daily news summary

Czech Republic joins EU agreement on carbon neutrality

EU leaders, including Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš, reached an agreement on climate change during a summit in Brussels on Thursday evening.

The heads of state backed plans for the 28-nation bloc to become carbon neutral by 2050, with the exception of coal-reliant Poland. The target is part of a plan to make Europe the first climate-neutral continent.

The Czech Republic, which also raised objections to the 2050 carbon neutrality goal, only agreed to the deal after assurances were made that member states could use nuclear energy to reduce emissions.

Czech foreign minister expects strenuous post-Brexit negotiations

Following Boris Johnson’s sweeping victory in Britain’s parliamentary elections on Friday, Czech Foreign Minister Tomáš Petříček said he anticipated complicated negotiations about post-Brexit relations.

Mr Petříček said that although he was personally disappointed by Britain’s planned departure from the European Union, it was important for the Czech Republic to focus on future cooperation with Great Britain. He also said he understood the need for British voters to move on.

Czech PM says definitive Brexit “pity for Europe”

Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš has described the outcome of elections in Great Britain as the victory of a charismatic leader, saying that Boris Johnson’s election victory on a powerful Brexit agenda was a signal for opposition Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn to resign.

Britain's departure from the European bloc is now definitive, which is a "pity for Europe," Babiš said, noting that Great Britain had been a good partner and ally in the 28-member block.

Czech foreign minister: Prague working to improve V4 image in EU

The Czech Republic’s priority in chairing the Visegrad Group is to show other EU members that the alliance has a positive agenda and a worthy contribution to make in addressing the problems of the European Union, Czech Foreign Minister Tomáš Petříček said in an interview for the CTK news agency assessing the first six months of the country’s lead role in the V4.

Petříček said he thought the Czech Republic was quite successful in smoothing out problems and showing the V4 in a constructive light, rather than a troublemaker as some have perceived it in the past.

He highlighted a recent meeting of the V4 with the Benelux states and an upcoming meeting with the Baltic States.

Petříček noted that while the V4 helped defend Czech interests in the EU, it was not the only platform on which the country operated, stressing the importance of talks with France on security and defence and those with Germany on trade and energy issues.

Hoax caller threatening another hospital massacre detained

The police have detained a fifty-eight year old man who made a hoax call threatening that a similar massacre to that in Ostrava’s Teaching Hospital would take place in a hospital in the town of Uherské Hradiště.

Police immediately surrounded the hospital, closing off all entrances and effecting other emergency measures. The hoax caller was detained two hours later and has been charged with scaremongering. He is reported to have a long criminal record. If convicted he could face from 1 to 5 years in prison.

A gunman shot six people dead in Ostrava’s Teaching Hospital on Tuesday and later committed suicide. The death toll rose to seven last night as a woman in critical condition succumbed to her injuries.The two other injured men have been released from hospital.

Meteorologists issue high wind warning

Meteorologists have issued a high wind warning for the central and western parts of the country on Saturday. The warning is from 10am to 6 pm when some areas may experience gale force winds which could damage trees and buildings and cause traffic disruptions.

The wind should blow at a speed of 70 to 90 km per hour. People in the mountain regions have been warned not to set off on hiking trips.

Weather forecast

Saturday should be partly cloudy to overcast with scattered rain or snow showers and day temperatures between -1 and 4 degrees Celsius.