News

The long-planned Museum of Totalitarianism, a project long in the making, could be located in the premises of the Strahov Stadium in Prague, representatives of two ruling coalition parties (TOP 09, Mayors and Independents) announced on Wednesday.

The planned reconstruction of the stadium is yet to go ahead and could cost around CZK 1.2 billion. In the interim, the representatives said the museum could be housed in the House of the Page of the Lords, in Hradčany.

Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš hopes that a diplomatic dialogue with Russia will help normalise relations with the country, he said so in an interview with the tabloid Blesk published on Wednesday. Mr Babiš said that after consultations with him, Czech Foreign Minister Tomáš Petříček had requested the opening of diplomatic dialogue with the Russian side to which the Russians agreed. The Czech prime minister went on to say that it is unacceptable for anyone to interfere in the Czech domestic political scene, but that the Russian side has rejected such an accusation.

There have been tensions between the Czech Republic and Russia in recent months, mainly stemming from Russia’s condemnation of the removal of a statue of Soviet marshal Ivan Konev in Prague 6. Reports appeared in the press that a Russian intelligence officer had been sent to Prague in April carrying ricin poison and three Prague politicians were sent into hiding upon recommendation by Czech security services. However, Russia denies this took place.

During the first month of coronavirus lockdown in the Czech Republic, when many Czechs were forced to work from home, productivity decreased by 10 percent and, after two months, fell further down by 30 percent. This according to an analysis conducted by consulting firm Moore Czech Republic among its clients.

Moore Czech Republic says this is mainly due to the transfer of whole teams into home office conditions, without the ability to analyse which sorts of work would be disadvantaged by the move.

The analysis also highlights that home office lowers a company’s cybersecurity capabilities and hinders the carrying out of tasks that require working with sensitive data. For example, workers in the public sector are often unable to take home their office laptop or computer due to security reasons, which affects their productivity.

Children with physical or mental impairments should have the same chance to attend classes in their respective schools as other students, according to Deputy Ombudswoman Monika Šimůnková.

Thus far the government plan for the reopening of schools counts on special needs schools to remain closed until the end of this academic year, but ordinary primary schools to begin reopening from May 25.

Ms Šimůnková has sent a letter to the Minister of Education Robert Plaga and Health Minister Adam Vojtěch, saying that this is in violation of education legislation and asking them to reconsider their timelines for re-opening.