Daily news summary

0:00
/
0:00

Czech PM: Brexit should not dominate EU agenda

Issues surrounding the United Kingdom’s exit from the European Union should not dominate the agenda of talks at European level in the coming months, says the Czech prime minister, Bohuslav Sobotka. Speaking on Thursday, Mr. Sobotka said that while Brexit was an important part of the debate, the key issue would be positive changes in how the EU functions that would generate greater public support. With regard to the UK’s plans to leave the bloc, he said the country could not hold on to the advantages of membership and rid itself of the disadvantages.

Prouza: Brexit spells chance for Prague to attract EU agencies, multinationals from UK

The United Kingdom’s departure from the European Union represents an opportunity for the Czech Republic to attract EU agencies and the headquarters of multi-national companies currently located in the UK, says the state secretary for European affairs, Tomáš Prouza. He made the comment after the first meeting on Thursday of a working group created to draw up a strategy on Brexit and the future of the EU. Mr. Prouza called on the Ministry of Industry and Trade and CzechInvest to draw up a list of firms that may be interested in moving to the Czech Republic.

Committee approves Koudelka as new counter-intelligence chief

The lower house’s Security Committee has approved Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka’s choice for the new head of the BIS counter-intelligence service. Michal Koudelka, who is 51, has worked at the BIS since 1996 and has headed its counter-espionage section for 10 years. He will replace previous BIS director Jiří Lang, who is stepping down after 13 years in the post. Mr. Lang, who is 58, has not given a reason for his decision. The counter-intelligence service is tasked with acquiring information on terrorism, extremism and illegal arms dealing as well as the activities of foreign intelligence services.

MP responsible for anti-gay comment not planning to leave Social Democrats

A Social Democrat MP who made controversial comments in Parliament about homosexuals says she has no reason to quit the party. During a debate on shared adoption by homosexual parents on Wednesday, Pavlína Nytrová said that homosexuals would push for the allowing of sex with children. Her party colleague Michaela Marksová tweeted that Ms. Nytrová ought to leave the Social Democrats for a different grouping. Party leader Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka has also distanced himself from the statements but said he would not push for her expulsion.

Police complete investigation into man accused of knowingly spreading HIV

The police have completed an investigation into a man suspected of knowingly infecting others with the HIV virus. Investigators are going to recommend that charges be pressed against Zdeněk Pfeifer from Most in west Bohemia, who is currently a fugitive from justice. They say that they are aware of at least three other males who had sex with Mr. Pfeifer that have since contracted the disease. The youngest victim is aged 13, the police said.

19 children injured in South Bohemia bus crash

Nineteen children were injured, none of them seriously, in a bus crash near Písek in southern Bohemia on Thursday morning. The bus was taking a total of 48 children on a day-trip from a summer camp in the Strakonice area when the accident occurred. Police said the driver had failed to respond adequately to water on the road and was to blame for the vehicle ending up on its side.

Chelsea again loan out defender Kalas, this time to Fulham

Chelsea football club have again loaned out the defender Tomáš Kalas. The 23-year-old from Olomouc, who has three international caps, will spend next season at English Championship club Fulham after last term helping Middlesbrough win promotion from the same competition. Since signing for Chelsea six years ago the Czech has been out on loan almost all the time.

Rosol to face Tsonga in opening match of Davis Cup tie with France

Lukáš Rosol will play Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the opening match of this weekend’s Davis Cup tie between the Czech Republic and France. The draw was made at an ice hockey arena in the north Moravian town of Třinec, where the quarter-final clash is set to take place. After Rosol faces the favourite Tsonga from 14:00 on Friday the second singles rubber will see Jiří Veselý take on Lucas Pouille. The top Czech player Tomáš Berdych has ruled himself out of the tie.

Water levels on Czech rivers continue to rise

Persistent rain in the Czech Republic is continuing to cause some rivers to swell. Among them is the Blanice River in South Bohemia, which reached the lowest flood warning level in the early morning hours. Meteorologists warned that water levels will continue to rise during the day, especially in the regions of Liberec and Ústí nad Labem in north Bohemia. Most rivers are likely to reach their peak levels during the night and start to recede during Friday.

Number of athletes representing Czech Republic in Rio de Janeiro rises to 106

Wrestler Adéla Hanzlíčková has joined the team of athletes, who will represent the Czech Republic at next month’s Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. The 22-year old freestyle female wrestler will go to Rio after a decision by the United World Wrestling federation to relocate free spots to participants. The Czech Olympic team, which is the smallest for a summer Olympics since the formation of the independent Czech Republic, currently has 106 members, but the final total could still change.