Daily news summary
National Bank governor: Czech economy ready for euro
The Czech economy is now prepared to adopt the euro and would have no significant problem in joining the single currency market, according to the governor of the Czech National Bank, Jiří Rusnok. Mr. Rusnok noted however that there were still huge disparities in prices and salaries between the Czech Republic and members of the Eurozone which should be bridged before the country made the move. He said that, barring unexpected circumstances, this could be achieved within five years. Czech governments have so far refrained from setting a time frame for euro adoption, and Andrej Babiš, whose ANO party is widely expected to win the autumn general elections, has said he is against the country joining the single currency.
President appoints Stanislav Štech minister of education
President Miloš Zeman has appointed Stanislav Štech as Czech minister of education, youth and sports. Mr. Štech, who is 62, is a Charles University psychology professor and a former deputy minister of education. He replaces the Social Democratic Party’s Kateřina Valachová, who announced her resignation after one of her deputies was charged with large-scale corruption involving sports subsidies.
Police arrest three people for suspected fraud in administering president’s Lany residence
The police have arrested three people on suspicion of manipulating public tenders for work on the premises of the president’s summer residence Lany Chateau. The three are employees of Lesní správa Lány, an organization administering close to six hectares of land and forests which belong to the Office of the President. They are said to have manipulated public tenders worth 60 million crowns. The police allegedly raided the office of the organization and employees' private homes. The Office of the President has not so far commented on the development.
Czech Republic expecting to attract record number of tourists
The Czech Republic could attract a record number of foreign tourists this year and has a chance of crossing the ten million mark, according to the government agency CzechTourism. In the first quarter the number of tourists reached 3.6 million, an 11 percent increase year on year. The growing tourist numbers are driven by renewed interest from Russian tourists and a sharp increase in the number of visitors from China, South Korea and Israel. CzechTourism says that, despite its optimism, the end-year figure will depend on the security situation, the weather and the strength of the crown.
Czech police force going on social networks
The Czech police force is going on social networks to improve communication with the public, Police President Tomas Tuhy confirmed on Wednesday. The force is setting up accounts on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube where they will post information regarding security measures, traffic and recruitment videos. The police force needs to increase its ranks by 4,000 men and women to an overall 44,000 by 2022 and the recruitment process is not going as fast as expected.
David Pastrňák becomes youngest winner of Golden Hockey Stick
The Boston Bruins’ David Pastrňák has become the youngest player ever to win the Golden Hockey Stick for best Czech ice hockey player of the year. Speaking at the award ceremony in Prague on Tuesday night, the 21-year-old forward said he had dreamed of winning the poll when he was picked up the junior Golden Hockey Stick two years ago. Twelve-time winner Jaromír Jágr, who is 45, came eighth this year.
Weather forecast
The weather should continue hot and dry across most of the country with Thursday’s highs reaching 33 degrees Celsius.
