Daily news summary
Czech MPs vote to ratify Paris accords
The lower house of the Czech Parliament voted on Tuesday evening to ratify the Paris climate agreement. The Czech Republic is the only European Union state not to have approved the document, which is aimed at curbing harmful emissions.
The Czech Senate voted to ratify the Paris accords earlier this year. The relevant legislation must now be signed by the president.
The Czech prime minister, Bohuslav Sobotka, said he was delighted that the country had signed up to the agreement and accepted responsibility with regard to future generations.
Zeman: Loss of EU subsidies better than forced acceptance of refugees
President Miloš Zeman says it would be better for the Czech Republic not to receive subsidies from the European Union than to be forced by the EU to accept refugees, the website Parlamentní listy reported on Wednesday.
Speaking to locals in the town of Český Těšín in the east of the country, Mr. Zeman said that following the European Court’s rejection of a complaint against migrant quotas from Slovakia and Hungary the Czech Republic would be forced to accept several thousand Muslim migrants under threat of a reduction in subsidies.
The president said, however, that Czechs should not give in to threats. If it comes to the worst, it is always better to surrender EU grants than allow in migrants, he said.
Unions declare strike alert in support of teachers
The Czech Confederation of Trade Unions has declared a strike alert in support of teachers unions, who announced a similar move on Tuesday. The president of the confederation, Josef Středula, informed journalists of the decision on Wednesday.
The national union body is demanding a pay rise of 15 percent for educators and 10 percent for other public sector workers from November. The Social Democrats’ leader, Bohuslav Sobotka, has expressed support for such increases but Finance Minister Ivan Pilný of coalition partners ANO says the state lacks the funds to cover them.
Meanwhile, the Czech Conference of Rectors has announced a Week for Education at the start of October to highlight their demand for greater funding for universities in next year’s budget.
Ryanair launches direct air-link from Pardubice to London Stansted
Discount air carrier Ryanair has launched a direct air-link from Pardubice to London Stansted, with flights scheduled three times a week.
The route is serviced by Boeing 737 carriers with 189 seats on board. Ryanair’s first flight from Pardubice to London was fully booked.
Pardubice is the fourth Czech city served by Ryanair, aside from Prague, Brno and Ostrava.
Pardubice Airport is originally a military airport which was turned into a civilian international airport in 1994.
Kintera exhibition opens at Rudolfinum
A major new exhibition of the work of Czech sculptor Krištof Kintera will be opened at Prague’s Gallerie Rudolfinum on Wednesday evening. Entitled Nervous Trees, the show includes around 20 sculptures, installations and interactive objects.
The exhibition is the 100th to be held at the Rudolfinum since the gallery was opened in 1994. It will be open to the public from Thursday and runs until November 26. Admission is free.
Kvitová out of US Open after defeat to Venus Williams
Petra Kvitová has been knocked out in the quarter-finals of the US Open in New York. The Czech lost 3-6 6-3 6-7 to Venus Williams of the United States in two hours and 28 minutes on the Arthur Ashe court at Flushing Meadow on Tuesday.
Reaching the last eight in the final Grand Slam of the season was an impressive achievement for Kvitová, who was playing only her eighth tournament since requiring major surgery on her left hand after an attack at her home last December.
Weather forecast
It should be cloudy in the Czech Republic on Thursday, with daytime highs of up to 18 degrees Celsius. Temperatures should be a little higher at the weekend, though rain is expected.
