Daily news summary

Old-age pensions set to rise by CZK 300 a month next year, say coalition parties

The parties in the Czech coalition government have agreed to increase old-age pensions by CZK 300 a month from January. Finance Minister Andrej Babiš said on Sunday that the necessary CZK 3.5 billion to fund the increase had been found in the state budget and that he would put the proposal forward at a cabinet meeting. Government leaders the Social Democrats also want to give pensioners and extra CZK 300 a month, though a hitherto coalition agreement had envisaged an increase of just CZK 200. Ministers are set to discuss the increase on Wednesday.

Babiš: Coalition will see out term despite disputes

ANO chief Andrej Babiš says its coalition government with the Social Democrats and the Christian Democrats will hold together until the next scheduled elections despite disputes that divide the parties. The deputy prime minister and finance minister made the comment on TV Prima in reference to a lower house vote preventing government members from owning media outlets that many believe was targeted at Mr. Babiš. He also said ANO would not discuss working with the Communist Party ahead of general elections scheduled for next year but did not rule out cooperation after regional elections scheduled for November.

130,000 people visit NATO Days military show

A total of 130,000 people visited the two-day NATO Days and Czech Airforce Days military show at the Mošnov airfield near Ostrava, organisers said. In view of bad weather on Saturday attendance was higher on the second day, with 85,000 visitors registered on Sunday. Last year 220,000 people attended the event, which is one of the largest military shows in Europe. Organisers said this year’s programme was the richest in the 16-year history of the show. Over 250 pieces of military hardware, including various fighter planes, were on display at the free event.

Four killed in Zábřeh crash

Four people were killed when a car and a bus collided in the small Moravian town of Zábřeh on Saturday evening. All four were in the car; another passenger was taken to hospital with serious injuries. Nobody on the bus was hurt. Police said they were still investigating the causes of the crash and refused to release any information about the victims.

Czechs to return from Rio Paralympics with seven medals

The Czech Republic’s team at the Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro will return home with seven medals. Archers David Drahonínský and Šárka Musilová came second in a mixed event on Saturday as the competition drew to a close to take the Czechs’ final, silver medal. The team earned one gold (for swimmer Arnošt Petráček in his category in the 50 metre backstroke), two silver and four bronze medals and are 50th in the results table.

Czechs beaten 6:0 by Canada in first World Cup of Hockey outing

The Czech Republic were beaten 6:0 by Canada in their opening game in the World Cup of Hockey in Toronto on Saturday night. Speaking after one of the worst ever defeats for the Czechs, manager Josef Jandač said that their opponents had been clearly better than his charges and had outplayed them in every department. The Czech Republic’s next game in the competition is against the Team Europe selection on Monday.

Czech Republic's Siniaková loses Tokyo final

The Czech tennis player Kateřina Siniaková has been beaten in the final of the Japan Women’s Open in Tokyo. Siniaková, who is 20, took the opening set but eventually lost 6-3 4-6 4-6 to Christina McHale of the United States in Sunday’s match. The Czech, who is ranked 65th in the world, was defeated by Laura Siegemund of Germany in her only previous WTA final, in Sweden’s Bastad in July.