• Cermat: 154,000 students applied for secondary school, slightly fewer than last year
    02/21/2025

    This year, over 154,000 students applied for secondary school in the Czech Republic, submitting around 419,700 applications. Last year, 157,000 applied. The application deadline ended at midnight, but late submissions may be accepted at schools' discretion. The Ministry of Education institute Cermat responsible for admissions and exams, will now process applications and prepare entrance exams, scheduled for April. Last year, 82% of applicants succeeded in the first round. The online system DiPSy functioned well, despite brief outages on Monday. Minister Mikuláš Bek (Mayors and Independents)  extended the deadline due to last year's technical issues.
    Author: Vít Pohanka

  • Czechia proposes five-year period for car emission penalties
    02/21/2025

    Czechia has proposed to the European Commission that emission reduction targets for new cars be assessed over five years instead of annually. Penalties for non-compliance would also be imposed only after 2029. Transport Minister Martin Kupka (Civic Democratic Party) said the plan still ensures a 15% emission reduction. Prime Minister Petr Fiala (Civic Democratic Party) warned that current high penalties threaten the European car industry. This year’s CO₂ limit for automakers is 93.6 g/km, with fines of €95 per excess gram per vehicle. Kupka sees the five-year framework as a reasonable compromise to support manufacturers.
    Author: Vít Pohanka

  • Výborný to ask Pavel to convene talks after wage law veto
    02/21/2025

    Agriculture Minister Marek Výborný, Chairman of Christian Democratic Party, will ask President Petr Pavel to convene a meeting of parliamentary party representatives to address the situation following Pavel’s veto of the wage law amendment. Pavel argued the proposal was only a temporary fix. Výborný believes the president should mediate talks between coalition and opposition parties to find a lasting solution. The vetoed bill would raise politicians' salaries by nearly 7% while freezing those of judges and prosecutors. The question has been subject of bitter political clashes in the parliament for the past few months.
    Author: Vít Pohanka

  • Pavel: Army capacity expansion to focus on voluntary models, not conscription
    02/21/2025

    President Petr Pavel ruled out reinstating compulsory military service, stating that increasing army capacity should rely on voluntary models. Prime Minister Petr Fiala also rejected the idea, emphasizing the modernization of the professional military. Pavel cited Scandinavian hybrid systems, where conscription exists but is primarily filled by volunteers. Chief of General Staff Karel Řehka warned that even after the Ukraine war, Russia will remain unpredictable, necessitating further army expansion. The Czech military aims to grow to 30,000 professional soldiers and 10,000 reserves by 2030, with possible further increases.
    Author: Vít Pohanka

  • Police and probation service to honor crime victims
    02/21/2025

    Czech police and the Probation and Mediation Service (PMS) will honor crime victims at noon on Friday with a minute of silence and flashing police lights outside stations nationwide. The event marks the European Day for Victims of Crime. PMS reached out to 6,391 victims last year, with about half accepting help. The flashing lights symbolize approaching support. Victims can seek assistance at 74 PMS centers, offering legal guidance, compensation claims, and court accompaniment. Services are available to victims of violent crimes, traffic accidents, and bereaved families.
    Author: Vít Pohanka

  • Lehečka upsets Alcaraz to reach Doha semifinals, Muchová advances in Dubai
    02/21/2025

    Czech tennis player Jiří Lehečka defeated world No. 3 Carlos Alcaraz of Spain 6-3, 3-6, 6-4 at the tournament in Doha, securing the most significant win of his career. With this result, Lehečka moves on to the semifinals, where he will face either Britain's Jack Draper or Italy's Matteo Berrettini for a place in the final.

    Meanwhile, Karolína Muchová also booked her place in the semifinals, defeating Romania’s Sorana Cîrstea 6-2, 7-5 at the Dubai tournament. Muchová’s next challenge will be Denmark’s Clara Tauson, who edged out Linda Nosková 7-6, 6-4 in the quarterfinals.
    Author: Ruth Fraňková

  • Teen charged with murder of two shop assistants in Hradec Králové
    02/21/2025

    Police have charged a 16-year-old boy with the fatal stabbing of two saleswomen in Hradec Králové on Thursday morning. The victims, aged 19 and 38, were attacked inside a store on Akademika Bedrny Street. A police officer arrived within a minute and provided first aid, but both women succumbed to multiple stab wounds.

    The suspect was arrested about ten minutes later, less than a kilometre from the scene. Police recovered a 20-centimetre knife near the crime scene. Investigators believe the attack was random and not linked to terrorism. As a juvenile, the suspect faces a maximum sentence of ten years.
    Author: Ruth Fraňková

  • Slavia fined by UEFA for racism, must close part of stadium
    02/20/2025

    UEFA has fined Slavia Prague €35,000 for racist behavior by fans during their December Europa League match against Anderlecht. In addition, the club must play their next European home game without spectators in sectors 106 and 107, UEFA informed on its website on Thursday.

    Although Slavia is out of the Europa League this season, the stadium closure will apply to next season, when they may compete in the Champions League. Slavia currently leads the Czech league by ten points, with the winner qualifying for the Champions League.

    After the Anderlecht match, Danish defender Mathias Jörgensen accused Slavia striker Tomáš Chorý of racism. UEFA found no evidence against Chorý and did not initiate proceedings.
    Author: Ruth Fraňková

  • Police: Number of violent crimes by juveniles up by a quarter in two years
    02/20/2025

    Following the stabbing in Hradec Králové, police released data on Thursday showing a 25% increase in violent crimes committed by children over the past two years. In 2023, minors were responsible for 947 violent offenses, including 9 murders, up from 701 crimes and 7 murders in 2022. The total reached 1,080 violent crimes last year. Authorities are concerned about the rise in youth violence and are investigating its causes.

  • Czech skier Nová wakes from coma, set for transport home
    02/20/2025

    After nearly a month, doctors have awakened Czech skier Tereza Nová from a medically induced coma following a serious brain injury sustained in a fall in Garmisch-Partenkirchen. The 27-year-old, who was injured on January 24 while training for a World Cup downhill race, will be transported to Czechia on Thursday from a trauma clinic in Germany.

    The skier suffered a serious brain injury with bleeding, a damaged neck vein, and broken bones around her eye. Now in stable condition, she will undergo further examinations and rehabilitation in a Czech hospital.
    Author: Ruth Fraňková

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