Daily news summary
Prime Minister Sobotka and German Chancellor Merkel to discuss future of EU
Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka is scheduled to hold talks with the German Chancellor Angela Merkel during her visit to the Czech Republic on August 25. Among the main topics on their agenda will be the future of the European Union, the continuation of Czech-German strategic dialogue and the cooperation in science, research and modern technologies. The German Chancellor is also set to meet with President Miloš Zeman and pay a visit to the Czech Technical University. On the following day, Mrs Merkel will attend the meeting of Prime Ministers of the Visegrad Group (the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary and Poland) in Warsaw.
Demonstrations to take place during Angela Merkel’s visit to Czech Republic
A number of demonstrations are set to take place in Prague during German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s upcoming visit to the Czech Republic on August 25. Nine gatherings have been announced so far by Mrs Merkel’s supporters and opponents, the Czech News Agency reported on Friday. During her visit to Prague, the German Chancellor is scheduled to meet with Czech Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka and President Miloš Zeman.
Deadline for registration of candidates for regional and Senate elections expired on Friday
Two hundred and thirty-three candidates, six more than in the previous elections, will run for the seats in the Senate, in which 27 out of the 81 Senators are to be replaced. Czech parties and movements have submitted 269 lists of candidates for regional assemblies, which is 19 more than in the 2012 regional elections. The deadline for the registration of the candidates expired on Friday. The regional elections and the first round of the Senate elections will be held on October 7-8.
Government to debate the Industry 4.0 Initiative
The government is scheduled on Wednesday to debate the national Industry 4.0 Initiative. The aim of the document is to promote the so-called fourth industrial revolution in the Czech Republic to ensure the country’s long-term competitiveness. According to the ministry, the document suggests possible measures that could boost the country’s economy and industry and includes plans to support investment and applied research and deals with issues related to the cyber security, logistics and smart cities.
Prague 5 to introduce 30-kilometre speed limit
The town hall of Prague 5 will introduce a 30-kilometre speed limit in some of its areas, including the district of Smíchov. The aim of the move is to increase the safety of pedestrians, spokeswoman for the town hall Helena Šmídová told the daily e15. The speed limit will come into force on August 24, when Prague 5 along with the introduction of paid parking zones.
Unions at TPCA negotiate 1700-crown salary hike for workers
Unions at the Kolín-based car maker TPCA, comprising Toyota, Peugeot, and Citroën, have reached an agreement on a gradual increase of salaries by 1,700 crowns. According to the new collective agreement, the average gross monthly salary in worker positions should reach 32,500 crowns by the end of the year. The company currently employs some 2,800 people. As of December, the workers will also be working shorter, eight-hour shifts.
Petr Václav’s We Are Never Alone to be screened in Toronto
The Czech film We Are Never Alone directed by Petr Václav will be screened in September at the prestigious Toronto film festival’s section Contemporary World Cinema, Markéta Šantrochová of the Czech Film Centre told the Czech News Agency on Friday. The film premiered at this year’s Berlinale’s Forum section where it received the Tagesspiegel Readers Jury Award. The bleak drama, starring Karel Roden and Lenka Vlasáková in the lead roles, later screened at several other international film festivals.
Trutnoff Open Air festival gets underway
The Trutnoff Open Air music festival got underway on Thursday night in Trutnov, east Bohemia. The festival was established in 1985 and it is closely linked to the former underground. This years’ edition is dedicated to what would be the 80th birthday of the late president Václav Havel, who regularly attended the event. Some musicians, including Jaroslav Hutka or the band The Plastic People of the Universe have cancelled their appearance at the event this year over the fact that the organisers have invited one-time Communist Party general secretary Miloš Jakeš to attend. Jakeš, however, declined the invitation.
Bzenec Winery takes Czech Winegrower of the Year Award
This year’s Czech Winegrower of the Year Award goes to the Bzenec Chateaux Winery from eastern Moravia. The awards were handed out on Thursday night at a gala ceremony in Prague’s Žofín. A jury of international experts assessed over 600 samples from dozens of winemakers. Bzenec scored a unanimous victory from the judges, followed by Volařík Mikulov and Vinné sklepy Valtice.
Javelin thrower Špotáková wins bronze in Rio
Czech javelin thrower Barbora Špotáková won the bronze medal at the Olympics in Rio on Thurdsay with a throw of 64.80 metres. It is her third medal in an Olympics competition, she previously won the gold at the Olympic Games in Beijing 2008 and London 2012. Špotáková told reporters she was delighted with the result, adding that the bronze in Rio “was as good as gold”. Her third medal makes her the best female javelin thrower of all time.
Hurdler Hejnová falls short of winning medal
Another Czech hopeful, hurdler Zuzana Hejnová fell just short of winning a medal in the 400 metre race in Rio on Thursday. Although she improved her personal record and came in under 54 seconds, she placed fourth. Hejnová told reporters she’d given it her all and had to accept fourth place with humility.
