• Survey: Percentage of Czech single parents living on less than CZK 10,000 / month doubles
    08/23/2020

    The percentage of single parent households struggling to get by on less than 10,000 crowns a month has nearly doubled in the past six months, an advocacy group says.

    According to a survey by the Unmarried Mothers’ Club, in which 1,528 single parents nationwide took part, before the coronavirus pandemic 16 percent were trying to get by on less than 10,000 crowns and now 29 percent are.

    Around one in five survey respondents said they had lost their job during the pandemic. In July the organisation received 350 requests for financial support, up from the previous average of 50 to 100.
    Author: Brian Kenety

  • Czech Railways exploring foreign expansion opportunities
    08/23/2020

    Czech Railways has been seeking to obtain licences for passenger transport in neighbouring countries towards the possible expansion of its services, board member Jiří Ješeta said, the state-owned firm’s monthly magazine Železničář reports.

    Currently, the carrier cooperates with neighbouring states to provide international service. However, Czech Railways has a licence to operate in Slovakia and is keen to serve its busy Bratislava - Komárno line, the news server Deník N reports.

  • Czech govt. to discuss Building Act, aimed at streamlining permit process
    08/23/2020

    The government is due to discuss the proposed new Building Act on Monday aimed at simplifying and accelerating the process of obtaining construction permits, in large part to aleviate the chronic housing shortage.

    Minister for Regional Development Klára Dostálová (for ANO) told the state agency ČTK that the ministry has received more than 5,000 comments on the original version of the law, many of which aim at increasing clarity.

    Dostálová has said the ministry aims to cut the average time for obtaining building permits from 5.4 years to 1 yearfor larger projects. Doing so will require, among other things setting fixed deadlines for responding to applications.
    Author: Brian Kenety

  • Czechs to seek EU opinion on expansion of Polish coal mine
    08/23/2020

    The Czech Republic will ask the European Commission to review the proposed enlargement of Poland’s Turow coal mine, near the shared border, Environment Minister Richard Brabec (ANO) told journalists.

    Among other environmental concerns, Czechs living in the region fear that the Torow mine, which is to be gradually expanded to 30 square kilometres, will impact the quality of the air and drinking water.

    The Foreign Ministry is drafting the motion, Brabec said, noting that Poland has not provided relevant information. Depending on what EC review says, the Czech environment and foreign ministries many propose further steps, such as a complaint to the European Court of Justice.
    Author: Brian Kenety

  • Tennis: Stan Wawrinka beats Aslan Karatsev in Prague
    08/22/2020

    Stan Wawrinka of Switzerland, a former US Open champion, defeated Aslan Karatsev of Russia in two sets (7-6, 6-4) in Prague on Saturday at the ongoing ATP Challenger Tour.

    In the semi-finals on Friday, Wawrinka, the World No. 17 in men’s tennis, defeated the young Czech player Michael Vrbenský.
    Author: Brian Kenety

  • Cycling: Jarmila Machačová wins second Czech road racing title
    08/22/2020

    Jarmila Machačová has won the Czech road racing championship for a second time, besting defending champions Tereza Neumannová and Nikola Bajgerová in Mladá Boleslav, northern Bohemia.

    Machačová first won that national title two years ago, in Plzeň, and has championship titles from 2008 and 2012 in time trials.
    Author: Brian Kenety

  • Weather
    08/22/2020

    Sunday should be cooler and mostly cloudy with sporadic showers likely in the afternoon, especially in Bohemia. Daytime highs should range from 22 to 26 degrees Celsius.

  • Ex-Interior Ministry official to head Personal Data Protection Office
    08/22/2020

    The Czech Senate has voted by secret ballot to elect Jiří Kaucký, a former State Secretary at the Interior Ministry, to head the Office for Personal Data Protection.

    Kaucký will replace Ivana Janů in that role as of September, when her term ends, if President Miloš Zeman confirms the appointment, as expected. Also in the running was current Office vice-chair Josef Prokeš.
    Author: Brian Kenety

  • Education Ministry proposes pass/fail state leaving exams as of 2021
    08/22/2020

    Czech state leaving exams may be graded on a “pass” or “fail” basis as of next spring rather than on a 1 to 5 scale (where 1 is the highest mark).

    The Ministry of Education A draft has put forward an amendment to the Education Law stipulating the change, as part of a move to standardize examinations.

    If the proposal is signed into law, school leaving exams would still be graded by Cermat (Centre for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement), a government agency. Schools would be responsible for oral and written language exams.
    Author: Brian Kenety

  • Survey: Most Czech university students work temporary or part-time jobs
    08/22/2020

    The majority of students enrolled in Czech universities and colleges work part-time or summer jobs during their studies, according to a survey by Poštovní spořitelna.

    More than a fifth of students have a long-term job in their chosen field, and 14 percent have a permanent such job, whether full-time or part-time, the survey found.

    According to Poštovní spořitelna, their net earnings range from 3,000 to 5,000 crowns a month on average. However, about one in ten earn more than 10,000 crowns per month after taxes.

    According to the portal Studenta.cz, university students’ average monthly expenses range from 7,000 to 10,000 crowns per month.
    Author: Brian Kenety

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