Daily news summary
Czech leaders slam US president’s decision to withdraw from global climate accord
Czech leaders have criticised President Donald Trump's decision to withdraw from the Paris global climate accord. Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka said on Twitter that abandoning the climate deal simply because it would temporarily afford a more comfortable life was a mistake. Mr. Sobotka said President Trump’s decision was a bad blow to the Paris agreement, but would not destroy it. This sentiment was echoed by Environment Minister Richard Brabec, who said the US president’s decision was bad news for the international community and environmental protection efforts.
Berndt Posselt hopes to see Benes decrees scrapped one day
It is entirely up to the Czech Republic whether it will see fit to scrap the post-war Benes decrees, the head of the Sudeten German Homeland Association (Sudeten German Landsmannschaft ), Berndt Posselt said on Friday on the eve of the association’s annual meeting. Mr. Posselt said that he personally hoped to see the decrees scrapped one day. The said decrees sanctioned the expulsion of Sudeten Germans and Hungarians from Czechoslovakia after World War II and the confiscation of their property.
The leader of the Czech Christian Democratic Party, Pavel Bělobrádek, will attend the meeting of the Sudeten German Landsmannschaft together with Culture Minister Daniel Herman. MPs from the Communist Party have criticized the decision describing it as a “provocation” at a time when Czechs will be marking the anniversary of the assassination of Reinhard Heydrich and the atrocities that followed.
Architectural historian Barbara Peacock looking for volunteers
British architectural historian Barbara Peacock who cofounded the Friends of Czech Heritage fund to help restore the Czech Republic’s architectural heritage told the ctk news agency she would appreciate more volunteers from the Czech Republic. The vast majority of volunteers are British nationals who travel to the Czech Republic to help with the restoration of Czech castles and chateaux, gardens and landmarks and it would be good to have more mixed groups and interaction with Czech enthusiasts, Mrs. Peacock said. She had devoted much of her time these last ten years to help restore the Czech Republic’s architectural heritage and was recently honoured with a Point of Light Award by Prime Minister Theresa May for her work.
Czech economy grows by 2.9 percent in first quarter
Year-on-year, the Czech economy advanced 2.9 percent after growing by 1.9 percent in the previous period, matching preliminary estimates, the Czech Statistics Office reported. It was the strongest growth rate since the second quarter of 2015, mainly due to rising foreign and household demand. Exports were up year-on-year by 5.4 percent, driven mainly by automobiles and electronics.
Prague Spring Music Festival to close with Seven Gates of Jerusalem
One of the greatest composers of the latter half of the twentieth century, Krzysztof Penderecki, will bring this year’s Prague Spring Music Festival to a close with his monumental work Seven Gates of Jerusalem (Symphony No. 7) on Friday night. He will be conducting the Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra. The 72nd Prague Spring Music Festival, which offered music lovers over forty concerts in different Prague venues, was marked by the death this week of the world renowned Czech conductor Jiří Belohlávek.
Speed skater Sábliková to receive state award
Speed skater Martina Sábliková will receive a state award for her outstanding representation of the Czech Republic, President Miloš Zeman said in an interview for commercial TV Barrandov. The president rarely discloses the names of people he intends to honour with awards on occasion of the country’s state holiday on October 28 in advance. Sáblikova has five Olympics medals, including three gold, 17 world champion titles and 11 victories in the world cup.
Weather forecast
Saturday should be clear to partly cloudy with day temperatures between 26 and 30 degrees Celsius. The afternoon may bring heat storms in places.
