• Speed skater Sáblíková (34) to continue in career
    03/17/2022

    The Czech speed skater Martina Sáblíková says she will not retire at the end of this season. The three-time Olympic champion, who is 34, said at a news conference in Prague that she had weighed up quitting the sport but decided to continue. However, she would not specify if she plans to take part in the next Winter Olympics in four years’ time.

    Sáblíková took bronze in the 5000m at the Beijing Games earlier this year.
    Author: Ian Willoughby

  • Babiš to remain in hospital until end of week
    03/17/2022

    Former Czech prime minister Andrej Babiš will stay in hospital until the end of the week, his ANO colleague Alena Schillerová said on Thursday.

    On Friday Mr. Babiš was taken to Prague’s IKEM hospital by ambulance after suffering what he later said was a blackout. He has been undergoing a series of tests.
    Author: Ian Willoughby

  • Weather forecast
    03/17/2022

    It should be mainly overcast in the Czech Republic on Friday, with an average high temperature of 11 degrees Celsius. The following days are expected to be slightly cooler but sunny.
    Author: Ian Willoughby

  • Czech tried over killings with pro-Russian separatists in Ukraine
    03/17/2022

    A Czech man is facing trial in Prague on suspicion of killing at least four Ukrainian government troops while serving as a sniper with pro-Russian separatists. Alojz Polák is accused of serving with military units of the Donetsk People’s Republic in Ukraine from 2016. He is being tried in absentia by the Prague Municipal Court and could face up to 26 years in prison if found guilty of taking part in a terrorist attack and being part of a terrorist group.
    Author: Ian Willoughby

  • Nearly 180,000 special visas now granted to Ukrainian refugees
    03/17/2022

    The Czech Ministry of the Interior has granted nearly 180,000 special visas to refugees fleeing Russia’s war on Ukraine. The migration police on Thursday reported nearly 100,000 registered refugees; of that number almost 43,000 are in Prague and 25,000 are in the surrounding Central Bohemia Region.

    The prime minister said on Thursday that there were around 270,000 Ukrainian refugees in the Czech Republic.
    Author: Ian Willoughby

  • Number of new Covid cases down but positivity rate remains relatively high
    03/17/2022

    Laboratories in the Czech Republic registered 8,559 new cases of Covid-19 on Wednesday, which is around 500 fewer than on the same day a week ago. The seven-day average incidence also decreased and currently stands at 503 infections per 100,000 inhabitants.

    Despite that, the positivity rate among people who tested as a precaution remains relatively high, with 23 percent of them being positive on Wednesday. That is one of the highest rates since the start of the epidemic.
    Author: Ruth Fraňková

  • US military convoy to pass through Czechia
    03/17/2022

    A US military convoy, which is heading from a NATO military exercise in Slovakia back to Germany, will be crossing Czech territory in the coming days.

    The first part of the convoy, made up of close to 1,200 soldiers and 500 pieces of military vehicles, will arrive in the Czech Republic on Thursday and spend the night at a camp near the town of Jihlava. The last part of the convoy is due to leave Czechia on Tuesday.

    Since 2015, US soldiers have been regularly crossing the Czech Republic on their way to the Defender Europe exercise.
    Author: Ruth Fraňková

  • Czech Republic to send more arms to Ukraine
    03/16/2022

    Czech Republic will send more arms and ammunition to Ukraine, Czech Interior Minister Vít Rakušan announced after a cabinet meeting on Wednesday.

    The Czech government has approved the delivery of more military equipment to Ukraine, Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Vít Rakušan.

    Speaking in a TV debate programme on Sunday, Defence Minister Jana Černochová said the department would send weapons worth 700 million crowns (approximately 283 million euros) to Ukraine.

    The Ministry of Defence has already sent about CZK 750 million worth of military aid to Ukraine, which is resisting Russian aggression, including ammunition, machine guns and anti-aircraft missiles.
    Author: Ruth Fraňková

  • Czech PM back from Kyiv: Ukraine needs more humanitarian aid and weapons
    03/16/2022

    On his return from face-to-face talks with President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv, Prime Minister Petr Fiala said the joint visit by the heads of government of the Czech Republic, Poland and Slovenia was not only symbolic in signalling unequivocal support for Ukraine, but that it had also addressed a number of practical issues.

    According to Mr Fiala, the topics on the agenda included sanctions against Russia and the need for more humanitarian aid and military supplies, namely anti-tank and anti-aircraft weapons.  The politicians also discussed the possibility of forming an alliance of states that would offer asylum to Russian army deserters.

    The Czech Prime Minister acknowledged the bravery of the Ukrainian people and said that if Europe and NATO continued in their support for Ukraine and sanctions against Russia, there was a chance to reach a peaceful diplomatic solution.
    Author: Ruth Fraňková

  • Homo Homini human rights award to go to Egyptian lawyer Mahienour El-Massry
    03/16/2022

    The Homo Homini prize for human rights advocacy, which is presented by the NGO People in Need during the One World documentary film festival, will go to Egyptian human rights lawyer Mahienour El-Massry, known  for her activism and work to promote judicial independence and prisoners' rights.

    She is set to receive the award in person at the start of this year’s 24th edition of One World, which will take place in 25 cities across the Czech Republic from March 21 to April 3.

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