Daily news summary
APA: Two terrorist suspects arrested in Prague this week
Two terrorist suspects linked to the unsuccessful attacks on trains in Germany last year were arrested in Prague on Wednesday, the Austrian news agency APA reported on Thursday, citing Austrian Interior Minister Herbert Kickl. The information was confirmed by the Czech Police Presidium.
The two foreign nationals, a man and a woman, are reportedly associated with an Iraqi man arrested in Vienna on Monday, who is suspected of carrying out unsuccessful attacks on trains in neighbouring Germany last October and December. According to Austrian officials, they are believed to have links to Islamic State militants. Prague Municipal Court has to decide by Friday whether the suspects will be remanded in custody.
Nobel winners Vargas, Müller among guests at upcoming Book World Prague
Nobel Prize-winning novelist Mario Vargas Llosa of Peru is among the high-profile guests set to attend Book World Prague, the 25th installment of the International Book Fair and Literary Festival taking pace from 9-12 May.
The focus this year is on Memory and Reminiscence while the guest of honour is Latin America.
Apart from Vargas, other important Latin American writers presenting their work include Bernardo Carvalho, Rodrigo Fresán, Álvaro Enrigue, David Unger, and Mariana Enríquez. The German Nobel Prize-winning author Herta Müller is also set to attend.
A total of 29 countries will be represented at the fair and festival, which last year drew 46,000 visitors.
Czech central bank keeps rates on hold over fear of Eurozone slowdown
The Czech National Bank kept key interest rates on hold at its policy setting meeting on Thursday as the risks of a global economic slowdown and fallout from Brexit outweigh accelerating inflation at home.
Consumer-price growth in February accelerated to its fastest pace in 16 months, with core inflation running at a record high, fuelled by a jump in salaries of over 6 percent in real terms.
But several central bankers have urged for caution over the effects of a Eurozone slowdown, with Germany the market for about a third of Czech exports alone, Bloomberg reported.
Nine war veterans to attend annual freedom celebrations in Pilsen
Nine war veterans from Belgium and the US are set to attend the annual Freedom celebrations in Pilsen marking the liberation of the West-Bohemian city by the US Army in 1945. The four-day celebrations, which get underway on May 3, will involve commemorative meetings, military presentations, concerts and exhibitions. A Ride of Freedom, including historical military vehicles, will cross the town on May 5.
Czech teachers wear black to protest low salaries
Hundreds of teachers across the Czech Republic are protesting against what they describe as poor conditions in the education sector by wearing black on Thursday. The event, which was joined by 40 schools around the country, takes place on the occasion of Teachers’ Day. According to the Ministry of Education, the average monthly salary of Czech teachers is now 35, 089 crowns, which is an eleven percent increase on 2017. Average monthly salary in the Czech Republic is 31,885 crowns.
The ANO party-led government has pledged to raise teachers’ salaries to around 46,000 crowns by 2021.
Plíšková advances to Miami Open semi-finals
In tennis, the fifth-seed Karolína Plíšková advanced to the Miami Open semi-finals after defeating her compatriot Markéta Vondroušová in straight sets, 6-3, 6-4. Plíšková will face the second-seeded Simona Halep of Romania for a spot in the final.
Another Czech, Petra Kvitová, lost her chance to become world number one for the first time next week after she lost 7-6, 3-6, 6-2 to Ahleigh Barty in the quarter-finals.
Weather
Friday is expected to be overcast to partly cloudy with daytime highs ranging between 11 and 15 degrees Celsius.
