• Lower house to start debating controversial pensions bill
    02/28/2023

    The lower house is due to start debating a government proposed bill which would cut back on the regular indexation of old-age pensions guaranteed by law according to the given measure of inflation. The move, which aims to save public finances at a difficult time, has raised an outcry from opposition deputies who say they will do everything in their power to prevent it, and threaten to filibuster for days if needed. The bill is being debated in a state of legislative emergency so as to be applied in June of this year, a procedure that has been criticized by constitutional lawyers. The opposition ANO party has said that if the ruling coalition, which has a majority in both houses, pushes the bill through Parliament they will file a complaint against it with the Constitutional Court.
    Author: Daniela Lazarová

  • Weather forecast
    02/27/2023

    Tuesday should be clear to partly cloudy with daytime highs between 1 and 5 degrees Celsius.

  • Rare aurora visible in northern Bohemia
    02/27/2023

    A rare aurora was visible in northern Bohemia late on Sunday evening and should be even more pronounced on the night from Monday to Tuesday, according to astronomer Petr Horálek. The rare sight in the night sky was caused by a geomagnetic storm from the Sun’s activity. The aurora could be seen with a naked eye both in Czechia and Slovakia.
    Author: Daniela Lazarová

  • Toyota partially resuming production after month-long shutdown
    02/27/2023

    Toyota Motor Manufacturing Czech Republic based in Kolín partially resumed production on Monday after a month-long shutdown due to a shortage of components from China, a spokesman for the plant told the ctk news agency. Even with new deliveries production will remain limited to three days a week.  The carmaker was short of components for both Aygo and Yaris models produced in Kolín. The company employs around 3,600 people and produces around 1,000 cars a day in normal operation.
    Author: Daniela Lazarová

  • Council of Europe Human Rights Commissioner: Romanies in Czechia still face discrimination

    02/27/2023

    Romanies in Czechia still face discrimination in many areas of life, Council of Europe Human Rights Commissioner Dunja Mijatovic said at the end of her five-day working visit to this country. In an interview for Czech Radio, Ms. Mijatovic said the segregation in schools not only of Roma, but also of children with disabilities is something that needs to change, and that requires a proactive and fearless approach on the part of the government. Another important issue on the commissioner’s agenda was compensation for Romany victims of forced sterilization, where some progress has been made but compensation payments are slow and involve excessive bureaucracy.
    Author: Daniela Lazarová

  • Czech volunteers from team4ukraine awarded medals for bravery
    02/27/2023

    Ten Czech volunteers from the civic association team4ukraine on Sunday received medals for bravery in Kyiv from the commander-in-chief of the armed forces, General Valery Zaluzhny. The team members  regularly travel to Ukraine to train Ukrainian soldiers in first aid, help in the hospital in Bakhmut, or deliver humanitarian aid. Last week they handed over a fourth ambulance and medical supplies to the Children's Hospital in war-torn Kherson.
    Author: Daniela Lazarová

  • Government wants to levy higher tax on gambling
    02/27/2023

    The government is planning to levy a higher tax on gambling, Finance Minister Zbyněk Stanjura told Czech Television. The government is looking to boost revenues and improve the state of public finances and is considering a number of tax hikes. According to Stanjura  the government aims to reduce next year’s budget deficit by CZK 70 billion, of which two-thirds would be by cutting expenditures and  one-third by increasing revenues. Presently the state collects around nine billion crowns annually from gambling. The VAT on spirits is also expected to go up.
    Author: Daniela Lazarová

  • Foreign minister bolstering Czech-Indian ties
    02/27/2023

    Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský is on a working visit to India aimed at deepening bilateral ties and furthering cooperation in defense, tourism, science and innovation. Minister Lipavský, who is due to meet with politicians and business leaders, said India is looking for ways to become less dependent on Russia for military equipment , which opens new potential in bilateral cooperation with Czechia. The Czech foreign minister is accompanied by representatives of dozens of Czech companies which want to enter the Indian market or expand their operations there, as well as representatives of the Confederation of Industry and Transport and the Ministry of Industry and Trade.
    Author: Daniela Lazarová

  • Weather forecast
    02/26/2023

    Monday should be partly cloudy to overcast with daytime temperatures between -1 and 3 degrees Celsius.

  • Health Ministry spent 18 billion crowns dealing with Covid pandemic
    02/26/2023

    The Czech Ministry of Health has spent over 18 billion crowns on dealing with the Covid pandemic in the past three years. According to a ministry report 14.6 billion was spent on vaccines, 2.3 billion on protective equipment and lung ventilators, 940 million was spent on operating the Smart Quarantine system and information lines, while 160 million went on media campaigns and advertising. Further millions of crowns were spent on testing, administering vaccines and treating the infected. The first three cases appeared in Czechia on March 1, 2020.
    Author: Daniela Lazarová

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