Daily news summary
Social Democrats elected new leadership
The Social Democrats have wrapped up a two-day election conference in Hradec Králové on Saturday by electing deputy chairpersons.
Delegates cast their ballots for Foreign Minister Tomáš Petříček, Labour and Social Affairs Minister Jana Maláčová, deputy Ondřej Veselý and mayor of Nové Město na Moravě Michal Šmarda. One of the deputy posts will remain unfilled.
On Friday, Jan Hamáček was re-elected leader of the party and Roman Onderka its statutory deputy chairman.
In a document approved on Saturday, the Social Democrats define themselves against "disposable political movements", saying that one of their goals is to prevent democracy from being turned into oligarchy. Among the priorities mentioned in the document is cutting the present working hours without lowering salaries and increase citizen participation in political decisions.
Income inequality in Czechia lowest in Europe
The differences between salaries in the Czech Republic are the smallest in Europe, the Czech News Agency reported on Saturday, citing data from the Eurostat and the annual report of the European Commission assessing the country’s economic and social affairs.
According to the report, the income of the richest 20 % of the population was around 3.4 times higher than the income of the poorest 20% in 2017, while the EU ratio is 5.1. The Czech Republic also has the lowest share of people at risk of poverty or social exclusion. In 2017, it stood at 12.2 %, compared to an EU average of 22 percent.
Police in Prague arrest suspected killer from Serbia
Police in Prague apprehended a Serbian national on Friday wanted on an international warrant, the Czech News Agency reported on Saturday. The 38-year old man, who is believed to be a contract killer, was arrested as part of cooperation between several countries.
The police says the suspect was arrested with false documents, two guns and ammunition, and tools for changing his appearance.
According to the AP agency, Serbian media in January published footage allegedly showing the suspect coming out of a car and shooting down his victim in a Belgrade suburb in broad daylight.
Oldest T3 tram to ride in Prague over weekend
Prague Transport Authority has launched a series of events to mark the 45th anniversary of the opening of the underground rail system.
People will have a chance to ride the oldest model of the legendary T3 tram, made in 1962, which will be running on Saturday and Sunday between the districts of Petřiny and Braník.
There will also be a historic metro set running along metro line B between Zličín and Černý Most over the weekend. It will be made up of carriages, which were in operation between 1978 and 2009.
The first Prague metro line ran from Kačerov to Sokolovská station, which is now known as Florence, in 1974.
Shot-putter Staněk takes bronze at European Athletics Indoor Championship
Czech shot-putter Tomáš Staněk has come third at the European Athletics Indoor Championship in Glasgow. Staněk threw a season-best of 21.25 metres. The best throw was by Poland’s Michal Haratyk at 21.65 metres. The medal is the first for the Czech team at this year’s competition.
Samková wins SBX World Cup race in Spain
World champion Eva Samková of the Czech Republic has won the women's World Cup snowboard cross race in Baqueira Beret in Spain.
Samková, who clinched the snowboard cross title at last month's World Championships in Utah, is now leading the overall International Ski Federation Snowboard Cross World Cup standings along with American Lindsey Jacobellis. The season's last snowboard cross competition is due to be held in Veysonnaz in Switzerland on March 16.
Weather
Sunday will be overcast with occasional rain showers and daytime highs ranging between 8 and 12 degrees Celsius.
