Daily news summary

Forum 2,000 opens in Prague

The 21st Forum 2,000 conference opens in Prague on Sunday. The annual event, established by the late president Vaclav Havel, brings together personalities and thinkers from around the world to discuss issues related to democracy and human rights.

This year’s theme is strengthening democracy in uncertain times and will focus on the impact of social media on democracy, the situation in Turkey and other topics.

Among the participants this year are Albert II, Prince of Monaco and the former Austrian president Heinz Fischer.

Unemployment at 3.9 percent

Unemployment in September dropped to below four percent, in line with analysts’ predictions, the ctk news agency reported. September’s unemployment was 3.9 down from 4 percent in August. According to economist Lukas Kovanda due to the lack of skilled workers more firms are now taking in graduates fresh out of school whereas in the past they demanded work experience. Unemployment had not dropped below 4 percent since October of 2008.

Analyst: Price of butter lower than in early 1990s

The price of butter on the Czech market has seen a steep rise, but viewed in context with the average wage it is still lower than it was in the early 1990s, economic analyst Aleš Michl told the ctk news agency.

Michl pointed out that while in1991 the average wage could buy 189 quarts of butter, in 2017 it would get 489 quarts.

The rising price of butter on the domestic and world markets has become a hot topic of debate ahead of October’s general elections. Agriculture Minister Marian Jurečka last week accused retailers of contributing to the rise through their high profit margins.

Czech Airlines’ plane bound for Moscow forced to turn back due to technical problem

A Czech Airlines flight to Moscow was forced to turn back due to a technical defect early on Sunday, the ctk news agency reported.

The plane returned to Prague’s Vaclav Havel Airport after the pilot reported a technical problem, fully in line with regulations, a Czech Airlines spokesman said.

The passengers boarded another plane for Moscow two hours later. The character of the technical problem was not specified.

Singer Marta Kubišová on Goodbye tour

Singer Marta Kubišová is opening the Czech part of her Goodbye tour with a concert in Brno on Sunday. The singer who was persecuted by the communist authorities and banned from singing became a symbol of the Velvet Revolution with her song Prayer for Martha.

Her Goodbye tour started in Košice Slovakia on September 26 and will next take the singer to Sedlčany, Chomutov, Hořovice, Varnsdorf and Prague. Her last stop in České Budějovice on November 1, will coincide with the singer’s 75 birthday.

Plzen celebrates birth of famous lager

The west Bohemian city of Plzen celebrated 175 years since the birth of its famous Pilsner brew at the weekend.

On October 5, 1842 beer master Josef Groll made the first Pilsner beer, the world’s first-ever pilsner type blond lager, which inspired much of the beer produced in the world today, many of which are named Pils, Pilsner and Pilsener. He used hops from Žatec, soft water and his own malt. The recipe has not changed over the years.

Open air celebrations with Pilsner beer, good food and music took place on the main square on Saturday.

Weather forecast

Monday should bring partly cloudy to overcast skies with day temperatures between 9 and 13 degrees Celsius.