Daily news summary
Head of Prague Muslim community expelled after call for Muslims to arm themselves
Imam Leonid Kushnarenko, head of the Prague Muslim Community, has been removed from office and expelled from the community. Both the Czech Muslim Community and its Prague branch distanced themselves from Kushnarenko after he posted a call on Facebook for Muslims to arm themselves in response to the shooting in Christchurch, New Zealand.
The head of the Czech Muslim Community Munib Alvari said the vote to expel Kushnarenko had been unanimous. Kushnarenko, who on Facebook offered to help any community members who wanted to acquire an arms license to protect their lives and property, said he would not appeal the decision and said it was important for emotions to subside.
Prague Supreme Court rules on rights to Little Mole
The Prague Supreme Court has ruled that the granddaughter of the late artist Zdeněk Miler, author of the famous Czech cartoon character Kreček (Little Mole), does not own the rights to it nor can she grant licenses for the production of Little Mole collectibles.
According to the ruling, the contract which Miler signed for his granddaughter shortly before his death is invalid. The verdict is legally binding.
The court upheld an appeal by Milena Fišerová, who was authorised to administer Miller’s copyrights in 2006 and who engaged in a drawn-out legal battle with Miller’s grand-daughter after his death in 2011.
Czech Republic poised to scrap strict controls on Polish meat imports
The Czech Republic, which was poised to scrap the strict control measures imposed on Polish meat imports on Monday, is still waiting for written guarantees from Poland pertaining to its own control measures which would guarantee safe imports in the future.
Agriculture Minister Miroslav Toman, who discussed the issue with his Polish counterpart and the EU commissioner for agriculture last week said the agreed on measures were adequate and controls would cease as soon as the Czech Republic received assurances that they had been implemented.
According to Petr Majer from the State Veterinary Authority if the written guarantees arrive on Tuesday the controls could be called off on Wednesday.
The strict control measures were introduced shortly after Czech veterinary authorities confirmed salmonella- infected meat in beef and poultry imports from Poland.
Czech president receives Slovak presidential candidate ahead of run-off
Czech President Miloš Zeman received Slovak presidential candidate, Vice-President of the European Commission Maroš Šefčovič at Lany chateau on Sunday.
The meeting took place less than a week before the second round of presidential elections in Slovakia in which Šefčovič faces lawyer Zuzana Čaputova.
According to the president’s spokesman Jiří Ovčáček, Mr. Zeman expressed appreciation of Mr. Šefčovič’s experience and political skills and wished him good luck in Saturday’s run-off.
President and prime minister to hold talks at Lány
President Miloš Zeman is to meet for talks with Prime Minister Andrej Babiš at Lány chateau on Monday evening.
According to the president’s spokesman Jiří Ovčáček the talks over dinner are expected to focus on planned cuts in next year’s state budget and issues relating to Brexit.
The Czech president and prime minister meet on a fairly regular basis to discuss matters of state.
Police arrest arsonist responsible for dozens of fires in Prague
The police have arrested an arsonist responsible for 31 fires in Prague and its surroundings between mid-January and March of this year.
The twenty-six-year-old admitted to the said fires but the police believe he could be responsible for many more.
A few days before Christmas the young man set alight six cars within the space of twenty minutes in Prague’s Letnany district.
He could face up to three years in prison.
Weather forecast
Tuesday should be partly cloudy to overcast with scattered rain or snow showers and day temperatures between 5 and 9 degrees Celsius. Night time lows between –2 and 2 degrees Celsius.
