Daily news summary
Czech government endorses attacks on Syria by US, UK and France
The Czech government responded in favor of the strike on Syria launched by the US, Britain and France. The attack sends a clear message to those who do not shy away from using chemical weapons, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a press release on Saturday morning.
Foreign Minister Martin Stropnický also confirmed on that as NATO ally the Czech Republic had been informed about the attack, although he didn't specify whether he was informed of the attack in advance. Prime Minister Andrej Babiš said the attack on Syria had been inevitable, emphasizing the Czech Republic clear stance against the use of chemical weapons.
The presidential office, on the other hand, condemned the attack and accused certain media and non-governmental organizations of supporting the war.
Czech-born Oscar winning director Miloš Forman dies at 86
Oscar-winning director Miloš Forman, known for films such as One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest and Amadeus has died at the age of 86, the Czech News Agency reported on Saturday. The Czech-born, US-based director died on Friday in the United States after a short illness, his wife Martina told the agency.
Forman was a leading personality of the Czech New Film Wave of the 1960s. He first attracted international attention in the mid-1960s with his films Black Peter and The Loves of a Blonde , an Oscar nominee for best foreign-language film, and The Firemen’s Ball, which was immediately banned by the communist regime in Czechoslovakia.
Two of his US films, One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest and Amadeus, have gained him an Academy Award for Best Director and One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest, adapted from Ken Kesey’s 1962 novel, became the first film since 1934 to win all five major Academy Awards. He earned his third and last Oscar nomination in 1996 for The People vs. Larry Flynt, a drama about the founder of Hustler magazine.
The Czech-born filmmaker is also known for two features about controversial Americans, The People vs. Larry Flynt and Man on the Moon.
National Museum buildings open for public free of charge
The National Museum in Prague is opening its door to the public free of charge on Saturday to mark its 200th anniversary. The historical building of the National museum, situated at the top of the Wenceslas Square, will re-open on October 28 on the occasion of the celebrations marking 100th anniversary of Czechoslovakia.
Seven buildings of the National Museum in Prague, including the Náprstek Museum of Asian, African and American Cultures, the Museum of Music and the museum's depositories in Prague's Horní Počernice and Terezín will be accessible free of charge until Sunday evening.
Defence Minister: Czechs not threatened by attacks on Syria
Defence Minister Karla Šlechtová called an emergency meeting of the National Security Council over the situation in Syria on Saturday. She said after the meeting that the country's security was not threatened by the attacks.
Ms Šlechtová said after the meeting that the US, UK and France have clearly shown that the use of chemical weapons can not be tolerated and that the consequences of attack on civilians have been minimized. She also said that the Czech soldiers taking part at the UN peace mission in the Golan Heights and the Czechs working at the embassy in Damascus were safe.
Number of Czech scouts reaches over 60,500
The number of Czech scouts has increased by about one third since 2006 to over 60,500, according to the data released by the Czech Scouting Movement Junák on Saturday. The most significant increase, by about 2,700, was recorded last year.
There are currently 2,148 scouting clubs all over the Czech Republic. The highest number of scouts is in the South Moravian region, followed by Central Bohemia, and Prague.
The Czech scouting movement was established in 1912 and was banned three times during their history, first by the Nazis and then twice by the Communist regime.
Above-average temperatures set to continue next week
Temperatures in the Czech Republic in the upcoming week should remain considerably higher than average for the time of year. According to a long-term forecast from the Czech Hydro-Meteorological Institute, we can expect temperatures reaching up to 25 degrees Celsius in the second half of next week. Temperatures will return back to long-time average, ranging between 18 and 21 degrees Celsius, in the next three-week period.
Weather
Sunday is expected to be mostly sunny, with occasional rain showers later in the day. Daytime highs are expected to range between 21 and 25 degrees Celsius.
