President Miloš Zeman begins a state visit to Israel on Sunday. The Czech head of state is due to meet with Israeli counterpart Simon Perez and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanjahu and is expected to deliver a keynote speech in Jerusalem. Speaking ahead of the visit, Mr. Zeman said the Czech Republic was Israel’s strongest ally in the EU and suggested moving the Czech Republic’s embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. The idea caused outrage among Palestinian leaders and evoked widespread criticism of the president on the home front. The Czech Foreign Ministry promptly issued a public statement reiterating its support for the Middle-East peace process.
Over 100 Romanies joined a Roma Pride march through the centre of Prague on Sunday afternoon. The event was intended to address widespread prejudice against the Roma minority and draw attention to the problems they face. Prague is also hosting an exhibition documenting Romany history and culture, a seminar on hip hop and Roma Pride day should culminate with a mass and concert. Similar events are taking place in 13 other European cities.
The last remaining 38 Czech soldiers serving at the training base in Wardak province, Afghanistan returned home on Saturday. The Military Advisory Team of the Czech Task Force served in Wardak Province for six months - from April to October 2013. Its primary mission was to train and assist a battalion of the Afghan National Army in operational planning and combat use of its units. The effort was focused on improving the unit’s combat capabilities and ability to lead professional operations without support from the coalition forces. In the course of those six months the team faced over 500 insurgent attacks and breaches of security.
The ANO party of business tycoon Andřej Babiš is forging ahead of its rivals in popularity polls just three weeks before the country’s general elections. According to a poll conducted by TNS Aisa for Czech Television ANO would come in second with 13 percent of the vote after the Social Democrats who look set to gain 29 percent. The Communist Party would place third with 11 percent, and the centre-right TOP 09 and the Civic Democrats would get 9.5 and 8.5 percent respectively. The Christian Democrats also stand a chance of winning seats with 6.5 percent of the vote.
Police are investigating the death of a motorbike rider after a shootout in Šumperk where motorbike riders have a home base. According to the ctk news agency motorbike riders from central Europe had congregated in the area for their annual meeting when a fight broke out in the late night hours. A foreign national was found shot and two other men were taken to hospital with serious injuries. One of them was shot in the stomach and had to undergo emergency surgery.
František Štastka, a Czech bartender from New York, has won the International Best Pilsner Urquell Bartender competition. The competition took place at this year’s Pilsner Fest on October 5, the day on which the first Pilsner batch was brewed in 1842. Tomáš Hrnčíř from the Czech Republic came second and Giacomo Fogli from Italy came third. The twenty best bartenders (18 men and 2 women) qualified for the finals with their exceptional knowledge of Pilsner Urquell lager, its specialised brewing process and history. The contestants also proved their practical skills in proper beer care, proper beer serving, and appropriate presentation of the Pilsen original.
The two Czech tennis hopefuls Tomáš Berdych and Petra Kvitová were both knocked out in the semi-finals of the China Open on Saturday. Tomáš Berdych retired with a back injury during his match against Rafael Nadal, handing the 27-year-old Spaniard an easy passage to Sunday's final. Meanwhile Jelena Jankovic beat Petra Kvitová 2:1.
The start of the week should be clear and sunny with daytime highs reaching 17 degrees Celsius.
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