Daily news summary
OECD: Prague should step up efforts to prosecute foreign bribery
The Czech Republic should step up its efforts to detect, investigate and prosecute foreign bribery, according to a new OECD report released on Thursday. The report, which evaluates the country’s implementation of the Convention on Combating Bribery of Foreign Politician in International Business Transactions, says Prague must improve its system combating foreign bribery, especially in view of the country’s export-oriented economy. Seventeen years after ratifying the OECD Anti-Bribery Convention, the Czech Republic has yet to prosecute a case involving the bribery of foreign public officials.
President Zeman to open Žofín economic forum
President Miloš Zeman will open the Prague Žofín economic forum on Thursday with a wide-ranging speech expected to cover the effective functioning of state administration, diminishing trust in political parties and Czech interests in Europe and abroad. The economics forum is a platform for debate not just on economic issues but matters relating to security and social problems. It is attended by leading politicians, economists and members of the academic sphere.
Czech prime minister meets with his Austrian and Slovak counterparts
Czech Prime Minster Bohuslav Sobotka met with his Slovak and Austrian Counterparts, Christian Kern and Robert Fico, in Brno on Thursday. The main topic on their agenda was migration crisis and the European Union summit in Brussels, which gets underway on Thursday. Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico suggested it would be more effective to discuss migration among smaller groups of EU member states, rather than in the whole of EU. The prime ministers have also discussed regional cooperation, education and the so-called Industry 0.4 Initiative, which involves the digitalisation of the manufacturing sector.
Fuel prices reach six months low
Gas and diesel prices at filling stations in the Czech Republic have reached the lowest level in the past six months, according to the data released by CCS, a company monitoring sales, on Thursday. The average price of top-selling Natural 95 fell by 21 hellers over the past week to an average 30.04 crowns per litre, while diesel dropped by 24 hellers to an average 25.89 crowns a litre. According to experts, the trend is likely to continue in the near future.
Meteorologists issue heat storm warning
Meteorologists have issued a heat storm warning for most parts of the Czech Republic on Thursday evening. A belt of heavy rain is expected to pass over the country from west to east- bringing torrential rain, hail storms and high winds. Rainfall at some places could average 25 litres per square metre, the forecasters say, and could result in local flooding.
Weather
Friday is expected to be mostly cloudy with occasional rain showers and storms and daytime highs reaching 25 to 29 degrees Celsius.
