Czech

Outspoken pro-Russian, anti-migrant Czech president

Prague - Muslimchronicle

Czech President Milos Zeman, who is seeking a second five-year term in a run-off vote later this month, has sown division with his strong anti-migrant and pro-Russian views, despite vowing to be "the voice of all citizens" when first elected. The burly silver-haired 73-year-old cut down on his smoking and drinking after he became the Czech Republic's first directly electedRead more

East-west clash as Czechs vote for new president

Prague - Muslimchronicle

Czech President Milos Zeman appeared Saturday, January 13, to be heading for a run-off as voting began on day two of a presidential election pitting the pro-Russian incumbent against a flock of more liberal pro-European rivals. Opinion surveys show the divisive 73-year-old ex-communist, who is also staunchly anti-Muslim and pro-Chinese, leading the pack of 9 candidates ahead of Jiri Drahos, 68-year-old pro-EuropeanRead more

Czech mogul loyalist elected parliament speaker

Prague - Muslimchronicle

A Czech lawmaker from billionaire Andrej Babis's populist ANO party, which won elections last month, was on Wednesday elected speaker of parliament, an important post in the government formation process. Under the constitution, the president has two attempts to decide who will form the cabinet, leaving the third and final try to the speaker of parliament. Radek Vondracek, who saidRead more

Former Wimbledon champion Jana Novotna dies aged 49

Los Angeles - Muslimchronicle

Former Wimbledon champion Jana Novotna has died at the age of 49. A statement from the WTA said Novotna, who had cancer, passed away peacefully on Sunday surrounded by her family. One of the leading players of the 1990s, Novotna famously broke her grand slam singles duck at Wimbledon in 1998, her win over Nathalie Tauziat a particularly popular oneRead more

Czech tycoon to form minority cabinet with experts

Prague - Muslimchronicle

Billionaire Andrej Babis, whose populist ANO movement won the Czech general election, said Friday he would form a minority cabinet boosted byexperts from outside the party -- after being snubbed by all potential coalition partners. Campaigning on an anti-corruption, anti-euro and anti-migrant ticket, ANO took the vote by storm last weekend, earning 78 seats in the 200-member parliament, ahead ofRead more

Czech tycoon Babis to be named prime minister but may struggle to find partners

Prague - Muslimchronicle

Czech President Milos Zeman said on Sunday he would name Andrej Babis prime minister, but the tycoon leader of the anti-establishment ANO party may struggle to find coalition partners despite his emphatic election win. ANO won 29.6 per cent of the vote at the weekend's polls, nearly three times as much as its closest rival, but many parties expressed reluctanceRead more

'Czech Trump' poised to win as bitter voters go to polls

Prague - Muslimchronicle

Upset with traditional parties and orders from Brussels, Czech voters could hand victory to a billionaire populist dubbed the "Czech Trump" and boost anti-EU parties in a crucial two-day election that kicked off Friday. Betting on his anti-euro, anti-migrant and anti-corruption ticket, the head of the ANO (Yes) movement, Andrej Babis, topped opinion polls before the vote that ends onRead more

Safarova out of China Open with wrist injury

Beijing - Muslimchronicle

Lucie Safarova, the women's doubles world number one, said Thursday she was pulling out of the China Open in Beijing starting on Saturday because of a wrist injury. The 30-year-old Czech, ranked 29th in singles, has already skipped the ongoing Wuhan Open. "I'm sad to announce I won't be coming to Beijing for the China Open this year," Safarova saidRead more

Kenyan long-distance Jepkosgei breaks women's 10k record

Prague - Muslimchronicle

Kenya's Joyciline Jepkosgei became the first woman ever to run 10 kilometres on the road in under half an hour after clocking 29min 43sec in Prague on Saturday. The 23-year-old Kenyan, who set the world half marathon record in the Czech capital in April, beat her own record of 30min 04sec she had set during that race. "I'm so happy,Read more