Morning Briefing │ Friday, April 19th, 2024

* PUBLIC TRANSPORT:

Prague’s transit authority has announced a tender with an estimated value of over CZK 80 billion for the purchase of driverless trains for the city’s C and D Metro lines, a spokesperson said on Thursday. The Prague Public Transport Company aims to select a supplier and sign a contract with them by October 2025. The trains should be delivered by 2029.

* MUSIC:

Semyon Bychkov will step down from his position as principal conductor of the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra in 2028. The 77-year-old Russian-born American has led the orchestra since 2018, when he replaced the late Jiří Bělohlávek and became the fourth foreign chief conductor of Czechia’s most important classical ensemble since 1989.

* WEATHER:

It should be mainly overcast with some rain in Czechia on Friday. An average high temperature of 8 degrees Celsius is expected. More grey skies are expected on the following days.

* ECONOMY:

Production of passenger cars in Czechia increased by 11.5 percent year-on-year to 394,443 vehicles in the first quarter of this year. This is the highest output ever recorded in the sector in the first three months of a year.

* POLITICS:

During his meeting with Prime Minister Petr Fiala at the White House on Monday, US President Joe Biden praised Czechia’s support for Ukraine, especially its efforts to secure ammunition from outside the EU for the invaded country, and stated that he considers it a great ally.