Daily news summary
PM Babiš leaves for a week-long visit of Singapore, Thailand and India
Prime Minister Andrej Babiš leaves on Sunday for a week-long official visit to Singapore, Thailand and India aimed to help diversify Czech exports.
Mr Babiš will be accompanied by Industry and Trade Minister Marta Nováková and representatives of over 40 Czech companies engaged in energy, health care, engineering and aircraft and defence industries.
Among other things, the Czech Prime Minister is set to meet with his respective counterparts and attend the opening of a new development centre of Škoda Auto India.
Chovanec to quit as MP over Social Democrats’ presence in government
Social Democrat MP and Former Interior Minister Milan Chovanec will give up his seat in the lower house of parliament by the end of March, Czech Television reported on Sunday.
He made the statement at a regional conference of the Social Democratic Party in Pilsen on Sunday. He said that he didn’t agree with the party’s participation in the ANO-led government.
Mr Chovanec failed to show up for a vote of confidence in a coalition government comprising his party and ANO last July, saying he could not raise his hand for the alliance for reasons of conscience.
Canadian House of Commons Speaker to honor Jan Palach
Chairman of the Canadian House of Commons, Geoff Regan, will honor the memory of Jan Palach at Charles University in Prague on January 18. The Czechoslovak student died after setting himself alight in Prague on 16 January 1969 in protest against growing public apathy to the Soviet-led invasion of Czechoslovakia.
A number of events to commemorate Jan Palach’s death are set to take place in the Czech Republic and abroad, including a special mass served by Tomáš Halík at the city’s parish of St. Salvatore on the eve of the anniversary.
On 16 January, the Speaker of the Senate, Jaroslav Kubera, will give a speech at a memorial service on Prague’s Wenceslas Square, held by organizers of the festival against totalitarianism Mene Tekel.
Czech women’s team takes bronze in World Cup relay
In biathlon, the Czech Republic’s women’s relay team have taken the bronze in 4x6 km relay race at the World Cup event in Germany’s Oberhof, Veronika Vítková, Eva Puskarčíková, Lucie Charvátová and Markéta Davidová made it into the top three on Sunday, behind Russia and Germany. The Czech women’s team reached the podium for the first time since March 2017.
Average temperatures expected in next four-week period
Average temperatures for the season are expected in the coming four-week period, according to the long-term weather forecast of the Czech Hydro-
Meteorological Institute issued on Saturday. Daytime highs over the next four weeks are expected to range between minus one and four degrees Celsius. Precipitation should also be average for the time of year.
Meteorologists warn of high winds
The Czech Hydro-Meteorological Institute has issued a warning against high winds with a force of up to 70 km an hour for most parts of the Czech Republic. The warning is valid from Sunday evening until Monday night.
According to meteorologists, the mountains regions could see winds of put to 110km/hour. Drivers have been warned to exercise extreme caution and mountain rescue services have advised people against mountain hiking.
Weather
Monday will be overcast with occasional rain showers and daytime highs ranging between 2 to 6 degrees Celsius.
