Early bird: Andrej Babis's government budget proposal may increase the deficit above 300 billion crowns. Obama criticized shootings in Minneapolis.
The state budget of the new government might exceed 300 billion crowns according to the Minister of Finance Alena Schillerová. This happens after the Minister of Labour Aleš Juchelka introduces a regulation according to which salaries of public sector employees will increase from April. Former US President Barack Obama criticizes current President Donald Trump for not trying to calm down the situation after which two people were killed in the United States.
Babiš's government should send its budget proposal to deputies today
The government of Andrej Babiš is expected to approve this year's state budget today. The Czech Republic is now operating in a budgetary provision. According to the fiscal responsibility law, the maximum permitted deficit for this year is 237 billion crowns. The lower house last year rejected the former coalition's proposal with a deficit of 286 billion, according to the new majority it lacked expenditure of around 96 billion crowns. Finance Minister Alena Schillerová has previously stated that it will be difficult to ensure a deficit below 300 billion crowns, reports the portal Ceskenoviny.cz.
Obama: Shooting in Minneapolis shows a threat to our values
The shooting of Alex Prett in Minneapolis by federal agents shows that our core values are increasingly endangered. This was stated in a statement by former US President Barack Obama. According to him, federal agents act with a sense of impunity and use procedures that are intended to intimidate citizens. The result of this procedure, according to him, is the shooting of two US citizens in Minneapolis on Saturday and at the beginning of the month, reported the server Ceskenoviny.cz. Obama also recalled Renée Good, who was shot dead in Minneapolis by a member of the Federal Immigration and Customs Office in early January.
Macron is pushing for an accelerated ban on social media use for children under 15
French President Emmanuel Macron wants his government to speed up the legal process that will lead to a ban on the use of social media for children under 15 years of age. The measure could come into effect at the beginning of the next school year, i.e. in September. Macron's announcement came just a few days after the UK government stated that they will consider a ban on social media for teenagers as part of a tightening of laws designed to protect children from harmful content and excessive time spent in front of computer monitors, the agency AP reported.
Lula claims that Trump is trying to "create a new UN"
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio "Lula" da Silva has accused his American counterpart Donald Trump of wanting to create a "new UN." Just few days after the American president launched his new Peace Council initiative in Switzerland.
"Instead of fixing the United Nations, what's happening? President Trump proposes to create a new UN, where he would be the only owner,"
Lula said in his speech.
He further criticized the "law of the jungle", which has recently been prevalent in the world in global affairs. Lula's statements come after he had a phone conversation with Chinese leader Xi Jinping. He reportedly stood for the central role of the UN in international affairs, reported Al Jazeera.
Alex Honnold conquered one of the tallest buildings in the world
Famous climber Alex Honnold reached the top of one of the tallest skyscrapers in the world. In Taiwan, he climbed to the top of the Taipei 101 building, which is 508 meters tall.
Honnold has been a recognized figure in the climbing community for almost two decades. He became particularly known globally after becoming the first person to free climb El Capitan, a rock formation in Yosemite National Park, in 2017. This thrilling ascent was captured in the award-winning documentary Free Solo, according to CNN.
Sources: Ceskenoviny.cz, CNN, AP, Al Jazeera
