Daily news summary

Czechs mark 74th anniversary of Prague Uprising

Political leaders as well as members of the public gathered outside Czech Radio’s Prague headquarter on Sunday to mark the 74th anniversary of the Prague Uprising against Nazi rule at the end of WWII.

The radio station was the focal point of the uprising and the site of one of the biggest clashes with Nazi forces as citizens came to defend the building against German attempts to retake it.

Around 170 people died defending the radio building and hundreds of others fell at the barricades that went up around Prague. Altogether, over ten thousand people were killed around the country. The commemorative ceremony outside Czech Radio was attended by the Speaker of the Senate Jaroslav Kubera, Prague Mayor Zdeněk Hřib, members of the Union of Freedom Fighters and others.

Rediscovered painting by Zrzavý sold for nearly six million crowns

A rediscovered painting by one of the leading Czech modernist painters, Jan Zrzavý, has sold for 5.8 million crowns at an auction in Prague on Saturday. The 1938 oil on canvas, called ‘Landscape in Brittany’, was part of a private collection and has been hidden from view for several decades. Bidding for the painting began at 3.8 billion crowns.

So far the most expensive painting by the painter, sold at a Czech auction, is entitled ‘Calvary in Locronan’, auctioned off in 2017 for more than 17 million crowns.

Survey: Two thirds of Czech employees negatively impacted by labour shortage

Nearly two thirds of Czech employees can feel the negative impacts of the ongoing labour shortage, according to a survey carried out by the Up ČR agency. Increased workload and more frequent overtimes are among the most common downsides of low unemployment. As a result, over 40 percent of Czech employees are considering changing jobs, suggests the survey.

The unemployment rate in the Czech Republic dropped in March to 3 percent, which is the lowest jobless rate since last November, with the number of unemployed people decreasing to 227,000.

Elton John to perform at Prague's O2 Arena on Tuesday

British singer Elton John is set to perform at Prague's O2 Arena on Tuesday night. Sir Elton will appear in the Czech capital as part of his final tour called Farewell Yellow Brick Road, which consists of more than 300 shows across five continents.

The 72-year-old singer, who first performed in the Czech Republic in 1984, has last appeared in Prague two years ago.

Hundreds pay last respects to football player Šural

Hundreds of people paid their final respects to football player Josef Šural in Brno on Sunday. The 28-year-old forward died following a minibus crash in Turkey last Sunday, when he was returning from a game with his club Alanyaspor.

Present at the ceremony were Czech national football team coach Jaroslav Šilhavý, president of Alanyaspor Hasan Cavusoglu as well as players from his former clubs Brno, Liberec and Sparta Prague.

Almahjoub Dazza wins Prague International Marathon

The winner of the 2018 Prague International marathon is Almahjoub Dazza of Bahrain. He covered the 42 km distance in 2:06:18, which was the second fastest time in the marathon’s 25 year history. Dawit Wolde of Ethiopia came second, followed by his compatriot Aychew Bantie.

Lonah Chemtai Salpeter of Israel was the fastest woman in the race, crossing the finish time in 2:19:44, which is a new race record and her personal best.

Weather

Monday is expected to be partly cloudy to overcast with daytime highs rangng between 7 and 11 degrees Celsius.