Daily news summary
Czech PM says EU unity crucial in dialogue with Russia
Czech Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka has stressed the need for the EU to present a united front in negotiations with Russia. Speaking at an EU summit of heads of government in Brussels the Czech prime minister said that while Russia’s violation of international law in Ukraine presented a serious problem in communication, Russia must not be forced into isolation and the EU must maintain dialogue with the country. We need to cooperate with Russia on many issues, such as the crisis in Syria, the fight against terrorism and measures against climate change, Sobotka said.
Rectors to boycott Independence Day celebrations at Prague Castle
The majority of university rectors will not attend the traditional ceremony at Prague Castle marking Czechoslovak Independence Day on October 28th, Czech Radio reported on Friday. An academic boycott of the celebrations has taken place for several years in a row in a show of protest against the policies of President Miloš Zeman and the fact that reactors who have fallen into disfavor with the head of state do not receive an invitation to the event. The Rectors Conference says this is undignified and has accused Mr. Zeman of appropriating the public holiday. The president’s spokesman Jiří Ovčaček warned that rectors who do not turn up for the event this year risk being crossed of the invitation list for good.
Lower house moves to extend diesel tax rebate program to livestock farmers
The lower house of Parliament has voted to extend a diesel tax rebate program to livestock farmers and other agricultural workers. Currently the program, under which farmers are able to reclaim 40 percent of the consumption tax they pay on diesel gas back from the state, applies only to grain farmers. Under the present amendment it should also apply to fisheries and forestry workers. The amendment, which still needs to win approval in the Senate, aims to raise the competitiveness of Czech farmers in the EU.
Czech field hospital to be deployed in Iraq in December
The Czech Republic will send a field hospital to Iraq before the end of the year, Czech Television reported on Friday, saying the mission has received approval from both houses of Parliament. The team of 30 doctors, nurses and logistics support, which is to cooperate with American medics stationed in the vicinity of Mosul, should leave in December. The hospital should help treat allied troops and Iraqi soldiers injured in the fight against Islamic State militants in and around Mosul. The Czech military already has flight specialists in Iraq who are serving as instructors for Iraqi pilots flying the L-159 jets which Iraq acquired from the Czech Republic.
Franz Kafka street festival in Prague
Admirers of the world-famous writer Franz Kafka can take part in a street event organized in his memory by the Franz Kafka Society in Prague. The half-day cultural festival named Kafka Forever is to take place on Friday (October 21) afternoon and evening between 3pm and 9pm in Prague's Dušní, or Holy Spirit Street, where a memorial to the author stands. The organizers have arranged a theatre performance, a concert and guided tours to Kafka’s favourite haunts in the Lesser Town available in Czech and German.
Czech hockey legend Jágr scores 750th NHL goal
Jaromír Jágr reached a career milestone on Thursday, scoring his 750th NHL goal, putting him third on the league’s all-time scoring list, behind only Gordie Howe (who scored 801) and Wayne Gretzky (894). The Kladno-native is also third on the list of career points, 17 points shy of Mark Messier (1,887).
Weather forecast
The weekend should be partly cloudy to overcast with the possibility of scattered showers on Saturday, clearer skies on Sunday and day temps between 9 and 11 degrees Celsius.
