Daily news summary

Press: Dispute over noose at Prague demonstration to go to court

A dispute between Interior Minister Milan Chovanec and the Prague 1 town hall surrounding the brandishing of a noose at a demonstration is set to go to court, Právo reported on Saturday. In an action filed by Mr. Chovanec, he states that officials uncritically accepted the testimony of the man who held the noose – directed at “traitorous” politicians willing to accept quotas of refugees – at an anti-migrant rally on Wenceslas Square last summer. Prague 1 shelved the case largely on the basis of a statement from the man when it should have properly considered all aspects of the matter and attempted to ascertain whether any violations had occurred, the minister’s petition states. Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka said he supported Mr. Chovanec's move.

Spokesman: Zeman social network videos counterweight to biased Czech TV

The spokesman for President Miloš Zeman, Jiří Ovčáček, says a recently launched video service showing appearances by the head of state are intended as a counterweight to state broadcaster Czech Television, Echo24.cz reported on Saturday. Mr. Ovčáček told the news site that his office had started posting the videos as Czech TV did not carry objective reports about Mr. Zeman’s visits to the country’s regions. In two months such videos have 50,000 views, he said. While they have hitherto been circulated via Twitter they will soon begin appearing on the president’s Facebook page.

Czech president to visit Armenian Genocide Museum

The Czech president, Miloš Zeman, is set to visit the Armenian Genocide Museum in Yerevan on a visit to Armenia next week, according to a working version of his programme released by his office. The Czech Republic has not recognised the killing of more than a million Armenians by Ottoman Turks in 1915 as genocide, unlike a number of other European states, most recently Germany. However, Mr. Zeman did use the term genocide during a visit to Prague by his Armenian counterpart Serzh Sargsyan in 2014; his office said the Czech president was expressing his personal opinion.

Ministry to buy radar speed guns with video recording function

The Czech Ministry of the Interior will this year buy more than 100 new radar speed guns with a video function, iDnes.cz reported on Saturday. A spokesperson for the police presidium told the news site that the devices, which are expected to cost around CZK 34 million, would replace existing ones purchased almost a decade ago. As well as measuring speed they will continually record in video with a view to also detecting other traffic violations such as illegal overtaking, the spokesman said.

State gets extra funding for boiler replacement grants

An extra CZK 300 million in state grants to replace old boilers will be available this year. The European Commission has agreed to fund the Ministry of the Environment scheme, making the move conditional on the money only going to renewable energy sources, meaning boilers using pure biomass or heat pumps. The Ministry is due to discuss the project with representatives of the Czech Republic’s regions in the coming weeks, a spokesperson said.

Average temperatures expected in Czech Republic in June

Temperatures in the next month should be average for the time of year, the Czech Hydro-Meteorological Institute said in a regular four-week forecast issued on Saturday. Czechs can expect temperatures ranging from 20 to 26 degrees Celsius in the coming week and a little higher in the following three-week period. Rainfall should also be average for the month of June, though it is expected to increase at the end of the month.

71st Prague Spring comes to close

This year’s Prague Spring International Music Festival will close on Saturday night with a concert of the Prague Symphony Orchestra at the city’s Municipal House. The orchestra will be conducted by Tomáš Netopil and accompanied by the young Israeli soprano Hila Fahim. The 71st edition of the Czech Republic’s biggest classical music event opened on 12 May at the Municipal House with the traditional performance of Smetana’s My Country. The 2016 edition of the festival has featured 14 orchestras and 65 soloists and conductors.