• Trade unions rally in Ostrava in support of European industry
    02/05/2026

    Hundreds of trade unionists gathered in Ostrava on Thursday to demonstrate in support of European industry and job protection. The rally was held beneath the former blast furnace at the Dolní Vítkovice complex as part of the European Action Day organised by the IndustriAll Europe trade union federation.

    The unions are calling for a review of the EU emissions allowance system, the protection of jobs, limits on cheap imports and stronger support for the competitiveness of Czech industry. Trade unionists from Poland, Slovakia and Hungary joined Czech workers at the demonstration.

    Prime Minister Andrej Babiš (ANO) addressed the rally shortly after it began, sharply criticising current European regulations. He told the crowd he would do everything possible to protect Czech and European industry, prompting an enthusiastic response from those gathered.
    Author: Ruth Fraňková

  • Weather forecast
    02/05/2026

    Friday will be mostly overcast, with patchy light rain or drizzle. Highs will range from 3 to 7 degrees Celsius, dropping to around 1 degree in higher elevations.

  • Metronome Prague adds Tom Odell, Lykke Li and Balu Brigada to 2026 line-up
    02/05/2026

    Tom Odell, Lykke Li and Balu Brigada have been added to the 2026 line-up of Metronome Prague, organisers announced on Thursday.The newly confirmed acts join performers already revealed for this year’s edition, including Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds, Sting, Jade, or Manic Street Preachers.

    Metronome Prague is one of Czechia‘s leading international music festivals, bringing together global headliners and emerging artists across multiple stages. The event will take place from June 19 to 21 at Letňany Airport, after relocating this year from its former home at the Výstaviště grounds.
    Author: Ruth Fraňková

  • Czech Railways carried 168 million passengers in 2025, slightly down year-on-year
    02/05/2026

    Czech Railways carried 168 million passengers last year, about 800,000 fewer than in 2024. The decline was linked mainly to service disruptions and fuel prices. The figures were presented Thursday during the opening of a modernised waiting hall at Prague’s main railway station.

    The 2025 total is about 92 percent of the pre-pandemic level, when the carrier transported 182.1 million passengers in 2019.

    Final results will be published after accounts close in late April, but the company expects to remain profitable despite weak rail freight markets across Europe.
    Author: Ruth Fraňková

  • Czech ex-detainee says health issues persist after Venezuela prison ordeal
    02/05/2026

    Czech citizen Jan Darmovzal, who was imprisoned for 16 months by the Venezuelan authorities, says health problems continue to affect his daily life after his release, though his condition is gradually improving. He made the statement in a press release issued on Thursday.

    He described prison conditions as severely inadequate, citing poor medical care, cold temperatures and a lack of basic hygiene that led to serious health complications among inmates.

    Darmovzal, who returned to Prague on January 18 aboard a Czech military flight, thanked those involved in securing his release and asked for privacy during recovery. He said he also plans to support political detainees who remain imprisoned in Venezuela.
    Author: Ruth Fraňková

  • Adaptation of Czech novel on HBO
    02/05/2026

    A two-part television film, Gerta Schnirch, based on the award-winning novel The Expulsion of Gerta Schnirch by Kateřina Tučková, premiered on HBO Max on Wednesday and will be available on HBO from February 8.

    The mini-series is an international co-production between Czech Television, Negativ, HBO and Arte, directed by Tomáš Mašín.

    Set in wartime and post-war Brno, the story follows Gerta (played by Barbora Váchová), who grows up in a Czech-German family torn apart by history.
    Author: Hannah Vaughan

  • Czech flag bearers at the opening ceremony of the Olympics announced

    02/05/2026

    The Czech flag bearers at Friday’s opening ceremony of the Winter Olympic Games in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo will be ice hockey player David Pastrňák and biathlete Lucie Charvátová, the Czech News Agency reported.

    Charvátová is a bronze medallist from the 2020 World Championships in Antholz-Anterselva. And Pastrňák is currently the highest-scoring Czech player in the NHL, playing for Boston.

    The flag bearers were chosen by the Olympic athletes.
    Author: Hannah Vaughan

  • Governing coalition withstands first no-confidence vote
    02/04/2026

    As expected, the coalition government led by Andrej Babiš (ANO) has withstood the opposition’s first attempt to pass a vote of no confidence in the Chamber of Deputies. The no-confidence vote was triggered by the escalation of a conflict between the Motorists’ Party, who are part of the governing coalition, and President Petr Pavel, who refused to appoint Filip Turek (the Motorists’ honorary president) as environment minister. The vote took place 20 days after the government had won a vote of confidence.

    The motion to bring down the government was supported by 84 MPs from the opposition parties -  ODS, STAN, the Pirates, KDU-ČSL and TOP 09. In the 200-member Chamber of Deputies, at least 101 votes are required for a government to fall.

    The debate preceding the vote took two days and a total of 22.5 hours.
    Author: Hannah Vaughan

  • Czech PM met Italy’s PM Meloni in Rome
    02/04/2026

    Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni received Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš at the Palazzo Chigi in Rome on Wednesday afternoon. The two leaders agreed to prepare a Czech–Italian action plan for 2026–2030.

    The Italian government said talks focused on EU's ability to compete and on bilateral cooperation, with an emphasis on defence, energy and infrastructure, while both leaders shared views on migration. Babiš described the meeting as excellent, calling Meloni Europe’s most promising leader.

    EU competitiveness  will be the topic of the upcoming EU summit. Last week, Babiš sent a letter to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, European Council President António Costa and EU leaders, in which he called for a pragmatic approach to the green transition, criticised rising ETS 1 emissions permit prices and urged a delay to the launch of ETS 2, which would extend the scheme to road transport and the heating of buildings.
    Author: Hannah Vaughan

  • President ready to appoint environment minister, awaits proposal unlikely to come
    02/04/2026

    President Petr Pavel is ready to appoint an environment minister and expects a new proposal from the prime minister, the Presidential Office said after a morning meeting with Prime Minister Andrej Babiš (ANO). Babiš earlier stated that he does not plan to appoint Motorists’ Party MP Filip Turek and described the matter as closed following talks with the president.

    Later in the day, Babiš said he will not pressure the Motorists' Party arty to propose an alternative candidate for environment minister. Speaking to reporters, he said that if the Motorists' Party decide to nominate someone other than Filip Turek, he would submit the proposal in line with the coalition agreement. For now, however, he said it does not appear likely.

    Turek was not appointed by the president due to his views and statements. For now, the Motorists’ Party leader Petr Macinka serves as environment minister while also heading Czech diplomacy. Macinka clashed with the president over Turek’s non-appointment.
    Author: Hannah Vaughan

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