Daily news summary
Czech Republic faces santions from EC over incomplete list of protected localities
The European Commission decided to initiate proceedings against the Czech Republic over an imcomplete list of European protected localities, Environment Minister Richard Brabec told the Czech News Agency on Sunday. Earlier this month, the cabinet approved an extension of the Natura 2000 list, but failed to add two localities on which the European Commission insisted, the Labe valley and the Slavíkovy ostrovy near Přelouč, east Bohemia. The minister said the matter will be debated at the government's meeting on Monday.
Taiwan protests against sister agreement between Prague and Beijing
Taiwan's government has lodged a serious protest to the Czech Republic over a recent sister city agreement between Prague and Beijing, that also includes a controversial clause recognizing the concept of One China, the Taiwanese news agency CNA reported on Saturday. The agreement, which was signed on Thursday, states that ‘Taiwan is an inalienable part of Chinese territory.’ According to the Taiwanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the phrase denigrates the country's sovereign status. The ministry has demanded an explanation from its Czech counterpart and that a correction be made by Prague's city government.
Sudeten German Landsmannschaft not to seek return of property
The Sudeten German Landsmannschaft, an organization representing Sudeten Germans expelled from Czechoslovakia after World War II, dropped the passage from its statuses stating it would fight for the return of confiscated Sudeten German property. The decision was made during the Landsmannschaft's conference in Munich at the weekend. The same change had laready been approved at a conference last year, but it was later revoked by a court. The possibility of Sudeten German restitutions have been a major issue of contention between the Czech Republic and Germany in the past.
Petition calls for square outside Russian embassy to be renamed after Nemtsov
A petition calls for the square outside the Russian embassy in Prague to be renamed after Boris Nemtsov, the Russian opposition politician who was assassinated in Moscow a year ago. "The proposal has been made in honour of Boris Nemtsov and all Russian democratic politicians. It should also show that Prague supports the defence of human rights and democracy in the world," František Nejedlý, one of the initiators, has told the Czech News Agency. On Saturday, a crowd of about 70 people marched from the centre of Prague to the Russian embassy to commemorate the assasinated politician. So far, over 1,500 people have signed the petition.
Masaryk's armchair auctioned off for 1.1 million crowns
An armchair designed by architect Josip Plečnik for President Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk was sold on Sunday at Prague's Sýpka auction house for 1.1 million crowns (around 40,000 euros). The starting price of the chair from the early 1920s, was 150,000 crowns. The chair was the last missing piece of an original trio, which was sold in the 1970s, when Gustav Husak ordered the remodeling of Prague Castle. It has recently been discovered in a private collection.
Jaroslav Soukup takes silver at European Biathlon Championship in Tyumen
In biathlon, Czech Jaroslav Soukup took the silver medal in a 15 km mass-start race at the European Championship in Tyumen, Russia on Sunday. The 33-year-old Czech had one penalty loop and finished four seconds behind Germany's Florian Graf, securing a place in the Biathlon World Championship in Oslo, which gets underway on Thursday.
Meteorologist issue snow warning for Monday and Tuesday
Meteorologists have issued a snow warning for several parts of the Czech Republic on Sunday. The Czech Hydro-Meteorological Institute said up to 15 centimetres of fresh snow was likely to fall in central, western and northern Bohemia throughout Monday and Tuesday. The weather office has also warned against icy conditions on the road.
