Daily news summary
PM Babiš: Czechia supports North Macedonia’s EU accession
The Czech Republic supports the start of EU accession talks with North Macedonia as it has fulfilled all the necessary conditions, Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš said after meeting with his Macedonian counterpart Zoran Zaev on Tuesday.
Mr Babiš said the Czech Republic was ready to help North Macedonia with the modernisation of its military according to NATO standards. He also promised to support the country’s cause in the European Council.
The accession of North Macedonia and Albania to the European Union has also been supported by Interior Minister Jan Hamáček and Foreign Minister Tomás Petříček.
More protests against Babiš to take place outside Prague
More protests against Prime Minister Andrej Babiš are planned for outside Prague on Tuesday evening. The demonstrations will take place in Brno, Ostrava, Plzeň and other regional centres and towns. They are organised by the group Million Moments for Democracy, which last Tuesday drew an estimated 120,000 people to the capital’s Wenceslas Square.
Million Moments for Democracy say that by appointing Marie Benešová as minister of justice Mr. Babiš is seeking to influence a criminal case against him. They are demanding her removal and the safeguarding of an independent judiciary.
Another demonstration is planned for Prague’s Letná Plain on Sunday June 23.
Karlovy Vary to honour US actresses Julianne Moore and Patricia Clarkson
U.S. Oscar-winning actress Julianne Moore is set to receive the Crystal Globe for her outstanding contribution to world cinema at the opening of this year’s Karlovy Vary International Film Festival, festival organizers announced on Tuesday. Patricia Clarkson, who this year won a Golden Globe for her performance in the HBO series Sharp Objects, will receive her career prize at the festival’s closing ceremony.
Among other guests at this year’s Karlovy Vary Film Festival will be Casey Affleck, who will return to present his directorial debut Light Of My Life, which premiered in Berlin. This year’s edition of the festival will take place from June 28 to July 6.
Sales of 100 top Czech companies exceed three trillion crowns
Turnover of the Czech Republic’s 100 largest companies last year for the first time exceeded three trillion crowns (around 118 billion euros), according to the Association Top 100. Meanwhile, their profits grew by 12.3 percent year-on-year to over 209 billion crowns.
Car maker Škoda Auto again won the annual contest for the best-rated 100 companies in the Czech Republic, which made both the highest sales and profits, followed by Daniel Křetínský’s energy holding EPH and the energy giant ČEZ.
Czechia sees its first tropical night this year
Temperatures in some parts of the Czech Republic surpassed 20 degrees Celsius at night, making it the country’s first tropical night of the year. Several measuring stations, mainly in Central and Eastern Bohemia, recorded their warmest ever temperature for the night. The hottest place in the country was Jeseník, where night-time highs reached 21.9 degrees Celsius.
Czechs beat Montenegro 3:0 in Euro 2020 qualifier
The Czech Republic beat Montenegro 3:0 in Olomouc on Monday night in a qualification game for next year’s European Championships. Jakub Jankto and Patrik Schick found the net for the hosts, while the visitors’ Boris Kopitovič scored an own goal. That victory was the second in a few days for the Czechs and puts them in second place in their group, behind England.
The Czech Republic’s campaign to reach Euro 2020 continues in September, when they will take on Kosovo and Montenegro in two away games.
Weather
Wednesday is expected to be sunny to partly overcast with heat storms in the afternoon and evening. Daytime highs will range between 29 and 33 degrees Celsius.
