• Warm weather for time of year to continue in coming weeks
    11/24/2019

    The relatively warm weather for the time of year that the Czech Republic has been experiencing is set to continue for another fortnight, according to a regular four-week forecast issued by the Czech Hydro-Meteorological Institute. Precipitation will also be lower than the long-term average.

    The forecasters say typical weather for the time of year should return before mid-December. It will freeze at night and it should snow in upland areas of the country.
    Author: Ian Willoughby

  • Pospíšil makes final address to TOP 09 as chairman
    11/23/2019

    Jiří Pospíšil has made his final address to the TOP 09 party as leader. Mr. Pospíšil appeared before delegates at a congress in Prague at which a new leadership of the right-wing opposition party will be selected on Sunday.

    The outgoing chairman said his two years at the helm had been successful and that TOP 09 were a significant force in Czech politics.

    Mr. Pospíšil says he wishes to devote more energies to his post as member of the European Parliament.
    Author: Ian Willoughby

  • Czech Republic to donate CZK 50 million in aid by end of year
    11/23/2019

    The Czech Republic is planning to donate CZK 50 million in international humanitarian aid by the end of this year. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs proposal should be discussed by the cabinet on Monday.

    One-fifth of the funding is slated for an International Committee of the Red Cross medical aid programme in Eastern Ukraine. Two-fifths is intended for the UNHCR’s work with migration in Zambia and the remainder should go to the UNDRR, which focuses on disaster reduction.
    Author: Ian Willoughby

  • Václav Marhoul joins Hollywood talent agency CAA
    11/23/2019

    The Czech film director Václav Marhoul has joined CAA, a top Hollywood talent agency, Deadline reported. His latest movie, The Painted Bird, was in competition at the Venice International Film Festival and is the Czech Republic’s submission for the Best International Feature Film in the Academy Awards. Marhoul’s previous works include the war drama Tobruk.
    Author: Ian Willoughby

  • Weather forecast
    11/23/2019

    Sunday should be overcast with some bright spells in the Czech Republic, with temperatures of up to 9 degrees Celsius. Similar weather is expected in the early part of the week.
    Author: Ian Willoughby

  • Czech Army to stop guarding Bagram air base next year
    11/23/2019

    The Czech Army will cease guarding a NATO-led forces air base in Bagram, Afghanistan at the end of March. The Czech minister of defence, Lubomír Metnar, revealed the decision to journalists while on a visit to Czech troops on Friday.

    The Czechs have been looking after internal security at the Bagram base for six years. At present the country has around 170 soldiers on the ground.

    Mr. Metnar said the Czech Republic would now focus on training Afghan special forces, while it would also send a military medical team to the country.

    A number of Czech soldiers have been killed on the current mission over the years.
    Author: Ian Willoughby

  • Poll: Four parties in lower house hovering around 5 percent trap door
    11/23/2019

    Government leaders ANO would have received 30 percent support if elections had been held earlier this month, suggests a freshly published poll by CVVM. The party were on 3.5 percent more in a previous survey by the agency. The latest poll put the Civic Democrats on 14 percent, just ahead of the Pirates on 13.5 percent.

    In the CVVM survey the Christian Democrats and Freedom and Direct Democracy were just half a point above the 5-percent threshold to make the lower house. The Mayors and Independents and TOP 09 would have exited Parliament, with 4 percent and 3.5 percent, the poll indicates.
    Author: Ian Willoughby

  • Czech Press Photo award goes to image of flag over anti-Babiš protest
    11/23/2019

    This year’s edition of Czech Press Photo was won by Lukáš Bíba for an image of a Czech flag flying above a June demonstration at Prague’s Letná Plain against Prime Minister Andrej Babiš. The jury said the photograph was a symbol of the complicated political and social situation in the country, with part of society taking part in passionate protests at the same time as Mr. Babiš’s ANO party maintained a lead in opinion polls.

    The Czech Press Photo competition was held for the 25th time this year. Some photographers refused to take part in the latest edition, saying the contest’s standards had fallen.
    Author: Ian Willoughby

  • Finance minister shocked by investigative report revealing abuse of seniors in old age home
    11/22/2019

    Finance Minister Alena Schillerová has expressed deep shock over an investigative report published on Seznam.cz revealing abuse of elderly clients at an old age home in Ostrava.

    A reporter infiltrated the home working undercover as a volunteer, bringing shocking testimony of physical and mental abuse of old people.

    The minister, who visited the home two weeks ago within a two day trip to the region, said she was horrified by the revelations and called for a thorough investigation into the affair.

    She said it might be worthwhile considering introducing strict psychological tests for employees in the future.

    Labour and Social Affairs Minister Jana Maláčová described the revelations as “terrible” adding that she had sent an inspection team to the old age home immediately.
    Author: Daniela Lazarová

  • Prague places 13th among 113 world cities in terms of economic and social inclusivity
    11/22/2019

    Prague ranks 13th among the world’s top 113 cities in terms of economic and social inclusivity compiled by D&L Partners. The new Prosperity & Inclusion City Seal and Awards (PICSA) Index measures factors such as the affordability of housing and access to education and healthcare, besides GDP per capita. Zurich tops the ladder, followed by Vienna; London placed 33rd, while New York 38th.
    Author: Daniela Lazarová

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