Daily news summary
Czech PM to meet with Chancellor Merkel
Prime Minister Andrej Babiš will hold talks with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin on September 5. The talks are expected to focus primarily on migration, the EU budget, Brexit and European elections. A number of bilateral issues are also on the agenda, such as road construction, cooperation in research and development and the Czech-German Fund of the Future. The Czech prime minister this week held talks in Italy and Malta to try to convince European leaders to change their approach to the migrant crisis.
Transport minister orders inspection of bridges
Transport Minister Dan Tok has ordered an inspection of all bridges built in this country in the period from 1960 to 1980.
The move comes after an inspection of a bridge in Doubí, near Karlovy Vary revealed that it was in much worse condition than previously thought and would have to be pulled down. The bridge was originally slated for reconstruction.
The inspection ordered should start immediately and cover some 1,000 bridges around the country. There are over 18,000 road bridges in the Czech Republic and close to 7,000 rail bridges.
Poldi Steelworks auctioned off to anonymous bidder
The bankrupt Poldi Steelworks was auctioned off for a third time on Thursday, to an anonymous bidder for 256 million crowns.
The minimum bid was set at 160 million crowns with the estimated value of Poldi’s assets given as 180 million crowns.
The first two auctions that took place earlier this year fell through after the bidders failed to pay the bid amount within the set time limit.
The former jewel of Czech steel-making, has been in insolvency since last December.
Number of pervitin addicts growing
The number of Czechs addicted to the home made drug pervitin –or crystal methamphetamine – has seen a steep rise in the past decade, according to National Anti-Drug Centre head Viktor Mravčík.
While ten years ago some 25 thousand young Czechs were addicted to pervitin, now their number has risen to 35 thousand.
Addiction to pervitin is the second most widespread addiction doctors are treating, immediately after alcohol.
Police arrest man suspected of hoax bomb threats
The police have arrested a man suspected of making hoax bomb threats in Prague.
The caller said he had placed explosives in the Anděl shopping centre in Prague’s Smichov district and demanded ten million crowns.
The centre was closed for six hours on Monday and nearby traffic was rerouted as explosives experts searched the building. A similar threat was made the next day.
If convicted the man would face up to 12 years in jail.
Plíšková in third round at US Open
No.8 seed Karolina Plíšková defeated Ana Bogdan and moved into the third round at the US Open on Wednesday. Plíšková had to rally from 0-3 down in the second set, but she turned the game around in emphatic fashion to win 6-2, 6-3.
Next, Plíšková will take on the winner of the game between No.32 seed Maria Sakkari or Sonia Kenin in the third round.
Weather forecast
Friday should be partly cloudy to overcast with day temperatures between 20 and 24 degrees Celsius.
