News
FBI arrests a torture and kidnapping suspect
FBI agents have arrested a man suspected of robbery and torture in Prague. Hossein Nayeri and three others were charged with kidnapping for ransom, aggravated mayhem, torture and burglary after they allegedly drove the owner of a California medical marijuana dispensary to the dessert last October and brutally tortured him in order to get money from him. One of the suspects was arrested already last year, while two others were arrested on Friday in Fresno. Mr. Nayeri was allegedly transferring flights in Prague on Thursday on his way to see his family in Spain. He will face extradition proceedings in the Czech Republic.
Christian Democrats and ANO stake out government and parliament posts
The Christian Democratic party wants to see their chairman Pavel Bělobrádek become the deputy speaker of the lower house, if they were to enter into a coalition government with the Social Democrats and the ANO party. The deputy chairwoman of ANO, Věra Jourová, announced on Friday that her party expects to receive five or six cabinet posts in the possible new government, and are most interested in the ministries of interior, foreign affairs and finance. ANO also want to nominate one of their deputies for the post of speaker of the lower house. The Social Democrats, who received the most votes in the October general elections, are planning to begin discussions on the possible make-up of the future government on Saturday evening at the meeting of the party leadership.
Two students forbidden from wearing the hijab at a Prague school
A nursing secondary school in Prague has forbidden two of its female Muslim students to wear the tradition hijab headdress to class, causing the students to leave the school. One of the students offered to wear the scarf in a way that would only cover her hair, but the school’s principal said that it was still unacceptable. The other student began attending classes without the hijab, but also left the school a few days later. The school said that wearing any headgear is against official policies and that the 23-year-old Somali and the 25-year-old Afghan students had other problems with school rules, which the young women deny. There are currently no laws in the Czech Republic, which concern religious dress in public.
Roma education fund gives stipends to 38 students
Thirty-eight Romani university students have received a stipend worth 21,500 crowns (800 Euros) for the academic year from the Roma education fund. According to some estimates, there are a little over 100 Romanis studying in Czech universities. Most of them are focusing on the fields of education, humanities, as well as economics and medicine. In the nine years of existence, the Roma education fund has provided stipends to 205 Roma university students.
Fewer Czechs are proud of their citizenship
Four in ten Czechs are proud of their citizenship, according to a recent survey by the Public Opinion Research Center (CVVM). The survey also revealed that 14 percent are ashamed of being Czech and 42 percent are ambivalent. National pride among Czechs has been steadily decreasing. In October 2011, 47 percent were proud of their Czech citizenship, while nine percent were ashamed of it. Around two-thirds of the respondents said if given a choice of any country of residence they would live in the Czech Republic. Two years ago, some 70 percent gave the same answer.
Sáblíková comes in second in Calgary
Top Czech speed skater Martina Sáblíková took second place in the 3000 meter race at the opening World Cup speed skating event of the season in Calgary, Canada. Sáblíková finished 35 seconds behind the German veteran skater Claudia Pechstein, and 29 seconds ahead the current world champion Ireen Wust of the Netherlands.
Weather
The weekend will be colder, with mostly overcast skies and a high chance of rain. Daytime highs should range between 7 and 11 degrees Celsius.
