• Babiš discusses migration and security on Rome visit
    08/28/2018

    The Czech prime minister, Andrej Babiš, held talks with his Italian counterpart, Giuseppe Conte, in Rome on Tuesday. The pair discussed the protection of the European Union’s external borders, cooperation with third countries and migrant return policies, the Czech Office of the Government said.

    Mr. Babiš and his host also spoke about the European Union’s relations with Russia and the US, as well as bilateral cooperation.

    In July the Czech leader agreed to visit Rome after Mr. Conte sent an open letter in response to Mr. Babiš’s refusal of an Italian request to take in 450 migrants.
    Author: Ian Willoughby

  • President pardons sick man jailed for corruption
    08/28/2018

    President Miloš Zeman has pardoned a man imprisoned for bribe taking, his spokesman Jiří Ovčáček said on Tuesday. The man was also found guilty of abuse of power and obstructing the execution of an official decision.

    He has been suffering from an oncological disease for some years and had no previous criminal record, said Mr. Ovčáček.
    Author: Ian Willoughby

  • Christian Democrats pledge to fight to preserve Senate
    08/28/2018

    The leader of the opposition Christian Democrats, who is himself standing for the upper chamber later this year, says his party will fight for the Senate’s continued existence. Pavel Bělobrádek said opponents of the the upper house of Parliament were out to destroy democracy, didn’t wish to hear conflicting points of view and had a tendency to regard the Czech Republic as a conquered land.

    Prime Minister Andrej Babiš has described the Senate as a talking shop and his ANO party has proposed its abolition. The upper chamber came into existence in 1996.
    Author: Ian Willoughby

  • Jarolím gives Petrák first call-up ahead of Ukraine and Russia games
    08/28/2018

    The Czech football manager, Karel Jarolím, has called up one previously untried player, midfielder Ondřej Petrák of Nürnberg, for his squad for a pair of upcoming internationals.

    Jarolím also gave the nod to three players who had not been picked for a year or more for a Nations League clash with Ukraine next Thursday and a friendly against Russia the following Monday.
    Author: Ian Willoughby

  • Police investigate ex-wife’s claim Paroubek had illegal earnings
    08/28/2018

    The police have begun investigating claims by the ex-wife of former prime minister Jiří Paroubek that he illegally acquired millions of crowns while he was the leader of the Social Democrats, iRozhlas.cz reported, citing a state attorney.

    Petra Paroubková made the allegations in an interview last week. The pair are currently divorcing.

    Mr. Paroubek says his ex-partner is attempting to scupper his chances in Senate elections in October, when he will be standing as an independent.
    Author: Ian Willoughby

  • Weather forecast
    08/28/2018

    It should be sunny in the Czech Republic on Wednesday, with temperatures of up to 27 degrees Celsius. The remainder of the week is expected to see rain and daytime highs in the low 20s Celsius.
    Author: Ian Willoughby

  • Wage growth faster in public than private sector in 2017
    08/28/2018

    Average earnings in the public sector have been rising more quickly than in the private sector in the Czech Republic, according to official figures quoted by the Czech News Agency. Wages rose by an average of 8.4 percent among public sector employees in 2017, compared to an average rise of 6.8 percent for those working in the private sphere.

    Public sector staff took home an average of just under CZK 32,000 a month last year, around CZK 1000 more than those in the private sector.
    Author: Ian Willoughby

  • Plíšková among Czech women into second round in New York
    08/28/2018

    The Czech Republic’s Karolína Plíšková has made it into the second round at the US Open in New York. The eighth seed overcame Zarina Diyas of Kazakhstan 6-4 7-6 despite making eight double faults and suffering four breaks of serve.

    Plíšková’s compatriots Lucie Šafářová, Barbora Strýcová and Grand Slam debutant Karolína Muchová also made it through the first round on Monday.
    Author: Ian Willoughby

  • Zeman not to attend this year’s UN General Assembly
    08/27/2018

    President Miloš Zeman will not attend this year’s United Nations General Assembly in New York, his spokesman Jiří Ovčáček said. Mr. Ovčáček said that the president had already said everything worth saying about the struggle against international terrorism at the UN in prevoius years.

    Mr. Zeman asked the prime minister, Andrej Babiš, to replace him in New York at next month’s event. However, Mr. Babiš said he was busy so the Czech Republic will be represented by Jan Hamáček.

    The latter said he would be travelling to the US as first deputy prime minister, not minister of foreign affairs, a role he currently holds in a caretaker capacity.
    Author: Ian Willoughby

  • Speed skater Erbanová blames coach over shock retirement at 25
    08/27/2018

    The Czech speed skater Karolína Erbanová has made the surprise announcement that she has quit the sport at the age of 25. She told journalists she would no longer tolerate the behaviour of national team trainer Petr Novák, whose approach she described as manipulative, humiliating and aggressive.

    Erbanová earned a bronze medal in the 500 metres at the Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang earlier this year. She also took gold at speed skating’s European Sprint Championships in 2017.
    Author: Ian Willoughby

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