Daily news summary
ANO leadership discusses communal elections
Members of the top leadership of ANO, part of the country’s ruling coalition, met on Saturday to begin early preparations for communal elections in the autumn. In particular, members addressed whether former Prague mayor Jan Kasl would remain first on the movement's candidate list in the Czech capital. Mr Kasl had been put forward by ANO leader Andrej Babiš, but was at odds with former Social Democrat Radmila Kleslová being included as a candidate, in part because of her alleged ties to influential businessman Tomáš Hrdlička. In the end, the leadership confirmed that neither Mr Kasl nor Ms Kleslová would head the Prague ballot. ANO will look for another suitable candidate instead.
Earthquake, measuring 4.5 on the Richter scale, hits Cheb area
The region of Cheb on Saturday registered an earthquake measuring 4.5 on the Richter scale, a week after seeing similar activity last week. The tremors were the strongest in several years. Fire fighters found cracks in some walls and a fallen chimney. The earthquake began below Nový Kostelec at a depth between eight and nine kilometers, a representative of the Academy of Sciences’ Geological Institute said. According to experts, the earthquakes this and last weekend could be part of a wave of increased seismic activity.
Police search for creditors harmed in get-rich scheme
Police in the area of Hradec Králové are looking for additional creditors defrauded of millions by a 35-year-old suspect in the Náchod area. The woman attracted lenders on the promise of a quick return. She convinced them she was able to buy euros cheaply at 23 crowns to the euro and sell them quickly at a profit for 27. The police suspect that the woman may have borrowed up to 20 million crowns. Police already know of nine people who were defrauded out of 7.7 million. According to reports, the suspect largely targeted friends and acquaintances.
Number of road fatalities in May lowest since 1990
The month of May saw the fewest number of road fatalities since 1990: 44. Last year the number was 51. Two hundred and twenty people involved in traffic accidents over the course of the month suffered serious injuries. The 12th and 21st were the worst days of the month, when five people died in accidents both days. There was a 12 day stretch when there were no traffic-related deaths.
Alice Cooper headlines first night at Metalfest
Friday saw the start of this year’s Metalfest, a hard rock music festival held outdoors at the amphitheater at Plzeň Zoo. This year, more than 35 local and foreign bands are performing. Metal legend Alice Cooper was the biggest draw on Friday night, after acting as ‘godfather’ earlier in the afternoon to a four-month-old baby rhino at Plzeň Zoo. Friday’s appearance launched Cooper’s three-week European tour, an organizer said.
French Open: Berdych advances to fourth round
No. 1 Czech men’s tennis player Tomáš Berdych advanced to the fourth round at Roland Garros on Friday with a win over Roberto Bautista. Berdych, the sixth seed in the tournament, dropped just one set. The final score was 6:1, 6:2, 6:7, 6:4. Berdych faces American John Isner next.
Hockey: Blackhawks force Game 7
The Chicago Blackhawks rallied on Friday to defeat rivals the L.A. Kings in the Western Conference Final in the Stanley Cup playoffs, forcing a deciding Game 7 in the Windy City. The winner of the match-up will face the New York Rangers in the final. A win by the defending champion Blackhawks would leave one Czech in contention for a Stanley Cup ring - defenseman Michal Rozsival, who already has a ring from last year.
