Daily news summary
Moody’s raises Czech rating for first time in 17 years
The international ratings agency Moody’s has raised the Czech Republic’s credit rating by one level to Aa3. This means that the risk of investing in the country is low and investments are safe. Moody’s said the move reflected governments aimed at boosting the economy and the fact budget indicators were improving. It also said the economy’s outlook had gone from positive to stable.
The last time the agency raised the Czech Republic’s rating was in 2002.
Prime Minister Andrej Babiš described the move as a great success for the Czech economy.
Poll suggests Klaus Jr. is most trusted Czech politician
A new opinion poll suggests that Václav Klaus Jr. is the most trusted politician in the Czech Republic. Some 42 percent of the respondents in September’s survey said they trusted the leader of the new Tricolour party, placing him ahead of Prime Minister Andrej Babiš of ANO on 38 percent and Pirate Party chief Ivan Bartoš on 29 percent.
Klaus Jr. was expelled from the Civic Democrats after supporting a Freedom and Direct Democracy candidate in Senate elections and comparing the acceptance of EU regulations to Jews being forced to choose who went on transports during the Holocaust.
The conservative Tricolour say they want to protect Czech values and to secure greater autonomy from the EU. Their leader is the son of Václav Klaus, who served as Czech prime minister and was president for two terms.
Various suggestions for tributes to later singer Gott advanced in Prague
Politicians in Prague have put forward a number of suggestions for tributes to Karel Gott, who died this week at the age of 80. The deputy mayor of Prague 1, Petr Hejma of the Mayors and Independents, told the Czech News Agency the Grand Hall at the Lucerna Palace could be named after the singer. Deputy city mayor Petr Hlubuček (also Mayors and Independents) has proposed naming the small bridge that leads to Slovanský Island near the National Theatre after the hugely popular star.
The city’s toponymic committee is to discuss naming a Metro station on the planned D line after Karel Gott after the idea was raised on internet discussion forums. The committee’s chairperson said the singer’s family would be consulted on the matter ahead of a meeting later this month.
Cabinet to next week discuss CZK 300 million in aid to African states
The Czech Republic should provide CZK 300 million in humanitarian aid to African countries in the next three years, the Czech News Agency reported on Saturday, citing a proposal to be discussed by the cabinet on Tuesday. The aid is intended to improve the situation in a number of states with a view to removing the reasons people migrate to Europe.
The Czech government has long supported combating illegal migration in refugees’ countries of origin.
The planned aid is expected go to countries in northern and western Africa, the Horn of Africa and the Sahel. Between 2020 and 2022 around CZK 100 million a year should be divided among programmes focused on supporting peace, financial development and social development.
Chernobyl director to film Spaceman of Bohemia by Jaroslav Kalfař
The novel Spaceman of Bohemia by Czech writer Jaroslav Kalfař is to be made into a film, Deadline reported. The movie will be directed by Johan Renck, who won two Emmy awards for his work on the series Chernobyl, the website said.
Spaceman of Bohemia was the first published work by Kalfař, who has lived in the US since his mid-teens. The very well received science fiction novel tells the story of a Czech astronaut who takes part in a space mission.
Flyers beat Blackhawks in Prague NHL curtain-raiser
Philadelphia Flyers beat Chicago Blackhawks 4:3 in a NHL Global Series ice hockey game at Prague’s O2 arena on Friday evening. Czech Jakub Voráček turned out for Philadelphia while David Kämpf and Dominik Kubalík appeared in the colours of Chicago, with the latter making his NHL debut. Almost 17,500 fans attended the match, which kicked off the regular NHL season.
Weather forecast
It should be overcast in the Czech Republic on Sunday, with temperatures of up to 9 degrees Celsius. Daytime highs are then expected to climb to the mid-teens Celsius by the middle of the week.
