Daily news summary
Visegrad interior ministers say quotas will not resolve migrant crisis
The interior ministers of the Visegrad group have warned that the introduction of a permanent mechanism similar to the mandatory quotas for redistribution of immigrants across Europe may deepen the migrant crisis.
In a joint declaration issued in Bratislava the interior ministers of the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary and Poland rejected the pressure that the European Commission is exerting on countries that failed to accept the required numbers of asylum seekers.
They argue that the only way of resolving the migrant crisis is through the protection of the EU’s external border, coordinated aid to the countries from which migrants are coming and bilateral agreements with their governments which would help to curb the flow of migrants.
Gale-force winds bring down power lines, complicate traffic
Gale-force winds have left hundreds of households without power and are complicating rail and road traffic in the northern parts of the Czech Republic, the ctk news agency reported.
Uprooted trees brought down power lines in the Ustí, Liberec and Benešov regions and emergency teams have been working round the clock to repair the damage.
Some rail connections have had to be cancelled while others report delays of up to five hours. Czech Railways is providing replacement busses for passengers. Clean-up and repair work is expected to last for most of the day.
Hackers Congress gets underway in Prague
The Fourth Hackers Congress, a three-day event hosted by the Prague centre Paralení Polis, begins in Prague on Friday.
Guest speakers this year include programmer and hacker Amir Taaki, described by Wired as "one of the most dangerous people on the internet", and controversial crypto-anarchist Jim Bell.
Financial freedom is the main topic this year, compared to decentralization in 2016.
Members of public, family and friends pay last respects to actor Jan Tříska
Members of the public, friends, and family paid their last respects to the film and theatre actor Jan Tříska at the National Theatre on Friday. Around 200 – 300 people waited for the theatre doors to open at 10 am. The Czech News Agency reported that many had flowers to place at the actor’s coffin.
Mr Tříska, who was 80, was one of the most respected actors of his generation; he performed in dozens of films including Miloš Forman's Ragtime and The People vs. Larry Flynt.
Jan Tříska died on September 25th, succumbing to injuries suffered after falling from Charles Bridge.
Grandi Stazioni has 40 days to better prepare legal case
A Prague district court has begun hearing a second lawsuit by Italian firm Grandi Stazioni over the loss of its lease of Prague’s Main Railway Station.
But the firm will have to better prepare its evidence as the basis for its lawsuit against SŽDC, the body overseeing the country’s railway infrastructure, from which it is seeking damages of around 210 million crowns. Grandi Stazioni is seeking compensation for investment in the renovation of the main station.
The Italian company has 40 days to better prepare its case, or the lawsuit could be dismissed, the judge Lenka Vávrová warned.
Czech football team gets win in World Cup qualifying
The Czech Republic’s national football team eked out a 2-1 win over Azerbaijan on Thursday in World Cup qualifying. Neither squad had any hope left of qualifying for the tournament in Russia, with the two top spots in the group already sewn up by Germany and Northern Ireland; but a third-place finish in the group would leave the squad better positioned in the draw for Euro 2020.
On Thursday, the Czech Republic got goals from Kopic and Barák.
Weather
Saturday is expected to be mostly cloudy with a chance of rain; daytime temperatures should reach highs of around 12 degrees Celsius.
