• Forbes: Plíšková world’s eight highest-paid athlete
    08/07/2019

    Czech tennis player Karolína Plíšková is the eight highest-paid female athlete, according to the U.S. magazine Forbes, with total earnings amounting to 6.3 million US dollars.

    The Czech-born former World No. 1 has won four events over the past 12 months, winning 4.6 million US dollars in prize money and another 1.7 million in endorsements.

    The list is dominated by Serena Williams with 29.2 million US dollars and Naomi Osaka with total earnings of 24.3 million US dollars.
    Author: Ruth Fraňková

  • Brutal Assault heavy metal festival kicks off in Josefov
    08/07/2019

    The 23rd edition of the heavy metal festival Brutal Assault gets underway on Wednesday at an old army fortress known as Josefov, some 130 kilometres east of Prague. The event, one of the biggest of its kind in Europe, will feature over 130 bands and is expected to attract around 20,000 visitors. According to organizers, tickets to the festival have already been sold out.
    Author: Ruth Fraňková

  • Seven wolf cubs observed in Beskydy and Javorníky mountains
    08/07/2019

    Scientists have presented new evidence of a thriving wolf population in the Beskydy and Javorníky mountains in north-east of the country. A wolf with seven cubs, which were apparently born this year, was captured on a camera trap. It is the first time wolfs have started reproducing in the area since being re-introduced there in the 1990s.
    Author: Ruth Fraňková

  • Poll: Slovak president most popular foreign politician among Czechs
    08/07/2019

    The recently elected Slovak President Zuzana Čaputová is the most popular foreign politician among Czechs, with over 70 percent of respondents giving her a favourable rating, according to a poll carried out by the STEM agency released on Wednesday.

    The Slovak head of state is followed by Pope Francis, who enjoys the support of 63 percent of Czechs. The head of the European Commission Jean-Paul Juncker has a 25 percent support rating while the Chinese president Xi Jinping is at the bottom of the ladder with just18 percent.
    Author: Ruth Fraňková

  • Further Czech investigated over participation in Ukraine conflict
    08/07/2019

    Czech police are investigating a 25-year-old man from the Karlovy Vary Region on suspicion of fighting with pro-Russian separatists in Eastern Ukraine, the news site Deník N. reported. The man could face up to 20 years in prison if found guilty of involvement in a terrorist attack.

    Deník N. said 15 cases of Czechs fighting in Ukraine’s Donbass region. It said the recently charged man is accused of taking part in combat alongside pro-Russian rebels in the second half of 2015.
    Author: Ian Willoughby

  • Aktuálně: President removed at last moment from bill on reporting lobbying
    08/07/2019

    The government removed the president from a list of politicians and senior officials who must make public meetings with lobbyists, Aktuálně.cz reported. The head of state was taken off the list at the last moment before the government approved the bill on reporting lobbying, the news site said.

    A spokesperson for the Ministry of Justice said that the move had been made after the president’s chancellor called for it at a meeting with cabinet members.

    Announcing the approval of the legislation last week, the minister of justice, Marie Benešová, told reporters it had passed with “minor modifications”.
    Author: Ian Willoughby

  • Zeman spokesman Ovčáček to get own TV show
    08/06/2019

    The spokesman of President Miloš Zeman, Jiří Ovčáček, is to get his own television show. The programme, named Jiří Ovčáček’s Talk Show, will begin airing on TV Barrandov in the autumn. The station already hosts a regular interview programme with Mr. Zeman presented by its owner, Jaromír Soukup.

    Mr. Ovčáček, who worked for the Communist Party newspaper Hálo noviny, has been with Mr. Zeman since 2013. He is known for making inflammatory comments on Twitter, saying his main account is private despite the fact it is named Presidential Spokesperson.
    Author: Ian Willoughby

  • Industrial output weakens after four months of expansion
    08/06/2019

    Industrial output in the Czech Republic weakened by 3.8 percent in June following four months of growth, according to official figures released on Tuesday. Lower auto production has been given as one of the main reasons for the downturn. The manufacture of metal structures and fabricated metal products also declined.

    By contrast, the production of rubber and plastic products, computers and other electronics and pharmaceuticals increased in the Czech Republic in June.
    Author: Ian Willoughby

  • Protesters block entrance to Environment Ministry
    08/06/2019

    Around 20 activists held a protest at the Ministry of the Environment in Prague on Tuesday morning. They blocked the entrance to the building and unfurled a banner suggesting department chief Richard Brabec was the “minister of environmental failure”.

    Demonstrators from the groups Extinction Rebellion CR and Limity jsme my said they wished to highlight what they called the Czech government’s irresponsible approach to climate issues.

    The protestors handed out leaflets saying the Czech Republic’s outmoded usage of coal was contributing to the climate crisis. They said recent approval for extending extraction at the Bílina mine was in direct contravention of the county’s international commitments.
    Author: Ian Willoughby

  • Strýcová named WTA Breakthrough of Month at 33
    08/06/2019

    Czech tennis player Barbora Strýcová has been voted WTA Breakthrough of the Month for July after enjoying the best Grand Slam of her career at the age of 33. She beat four seeds on route to the semi-finals at Wimbledon, the first time she had reached the last four at a major tournament.

    In addition Strýcová and Hsieh Su-wei won the ladies doubles at the All England Club, a result that left the Czech veteran world doubles number one.
    Author: Ian Willoughby

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