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The population of Czechia increased by 54,700 to 10.88 million in the first three quarters of this year, according to data published by the Czech Statistics Office on Tuesday. The increase is due to foreign migration, especially from Ukraine.

From January to the end of September, 116,700 people immigrated to Czechia, while 48,600 people left the country. The figures include Ukrainians granted temporary protection due to Russian military aggression.

According to the freshly released data, the first six months of 2022 saw 69,200 births, which is a drop by 11 percent year-on-year. The number of deceased also went down to 82,600.

The Supreme Court has increased compensation for children from Romani families who were evicted from their homes in the Moravian town of Vsetín in 2006. They will receive sums ranging between CZK 10,000 to CZK 95,000.

The decision to move several hundred Romani rent-defaulters out of a dilapidated block of flats in the town was made by the then mayor Jiří Čunek from the Christian Democratic Party, who faced much criticism for the move.

The people were moved to portacabins and rundown buildings, some of which lacked basic necessities like electricity and running water. According to the judge, the move led to broken social ties and in one case to a family break-up.

Czech company CPI Property Group has ended its cooperation with the Czech Olympic Committee in reaction to the International Olympic Committee's decision to allow neutral Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.

The company made the announcement in a press release on Monday, calling on other Czech Olympic Committee partners to do the same.

The International Olympic Committee announced Friday it would allow athletes from Russia and Belarus to compete at the games as individuals if they meet the qualification criteria and other conditions. The Czech Olympic Committee disagrees with the move.

According to the head of the Czech Army, General Karel Řehka, war with Russia is not likely, but it is also not unimaginable Speaking at a conference in Prague on Monday, the chief of the General Staff said conflict can only be prevented by deterrence, not agreement.

Mr. Řehka also stressed the need to continue to support Ukraine. He said Russia had a long history of undermining Western unity and challenging democracy and state institutions, using disinformation to create uncertainty and distrust.