• Czech construction sector builds better performance in 2017
    12/28/2017

    The struggling Czech construction sector is set for growth this year according to figures from the Czech Statistical Office.

    The national statistical office says growth for the first 10 months of the year averaged out at 2.3 percent. The compares with a sharp drop of 5.9 percent in turnover for the sector in 2016.

    Construction in 2017 started poorly in January and February this year but activity picked up in the Spring and Summer for around six months before falling off again.
    Author: Chris Johnstone

  • Farm boss calls for cut in VAT rate on food
    12/28/2017

    The head of one of the biggest farmers' associations, the Zěmědelský Svaz, has called for a cut in the basic rate of Value Added Tax for food and fruit.

    Martin Pýcha suggest a cut to between seven and 10 percent should apply at least to basic foodstuffs. The reduced rate of VAT in the Czech Republic is currently 10 percent.

    So far the government of ANO leader Andrej Babiš has not signalled any willingness to cut VAT rates in its government programme.
    Author: Chris Johnstone

  • Czech crown one of strongest performers in 2017: Bloomberg
    12/28/2017

    The Czech crown was one of the fastest appreciating currencies in 2017, according to the financial news agency Bloomberg.

    The fastest rising currency was the Mozambique metical which climbed by 21 percent against the US dollar. The Czech crown shared second place with the Polish zloty, both appreciating by 18 percent.

    The Czech National Bank ended the so-called weak crown policy in April this year which had pegged the crown to at or below 27 crowns to the euro and allowed it to float freely. Interest rate rises have followed and are set to continue.
    Author: Chris Johnstone

  • Local authorities begin issuing voting cards for presidential elections
    12/28/2017

    Local authorities around the Czech Republic have begun issuing voting cards ahead of next month’s presidential elections. Any registered voters who plan to cast their ballots for head of state at a location other than their registered address can apply for the cards in writing until January 5 and in person until January 10. The same dates apply to Czechs living abroad, who must obtain voting cards from their nearest Czech diplomatic mission.

    The first round of voting in the second ever public vote for president takes place on January 12 and 13. If no candidate gets over 50 percent the front two will go through to a run-off two weeks later.
    Author: Ian Willoughby

  • Kintera’s Nervous Trees best-attended Czech exhibition of 2017
    12/28/2017

    Nervous Trees by artist Krištof Kintera was the best-attended exhibition of the year in the Czech Republic. Almost 162,000 visitors saw the show, which was free of charge and took place at Prague’s Galerie Rudolfinum.

    Originally due to end in late November, Nervous Trees was extended by a month because of its popularity. On the colourful exhibition’s final day on Wednesday it drew over 5,000 people, the gallery’s chief, Petr Nedoma, told the Czech News Agency.
    Author: Ian Willoughby

  • Three foreigners charged over Brno attack
    12/27/2017

    Three foreigners have been charged after a knife attack on two men in Brno in the early hours of Saturday, police in the city said on Wednesday. One of the three foreigners could face up to 10 years in prison if found guilty of charges including grievous bodily harm. The other two have been charged with disorderly conduct, for which the maximum sentence is two years.

    The three men are reported to be from North Africa and long-term residents of the Czech Republic. The victims, aged 31 and 32, were taken to hospital after the attack, which left them with bad cuts.
    Author: Ian Willoughby

  • Stramaccioni concedes mistakes in first season as Sparta manager
    12/27/2017

    Sparta Prague’s Italian coach Andrea Stramaccioni says he made a number of mistakes in the early part of his first season in Czech football. Speaking to journalists on Wednesday, the former boss of Inter Milan said it had been a challenge coming to the Czech league as the only foreign manager.

    Stramaccioni said, however, that he was glad to have received a recent vote of confidence from Sparta’s owner Daniel Křetínský. He said he had acquired valuable experience and could still turn the club’s season around.

    Sparta have the most league titles in Czech soccer history but currently lie in fifth in the table.
    Author: Ian Willoughby

  • Black ice warning for Bohemia on Wednesday night
    12/27/2017

    Forecasters have issued a warning that the western half of Bohemia will be hit by black ice on Wednesday night. The ice is expected to form in areas including Prague and the Karlovy Vary, Plzeň and Ústí nad Labem regions before midnight and persist until Thursday morning.

    Strong winds are forecast for several parts of Moravia, in particular the Jeseníky and Beskydy mountain ranges.
    Author: Ian Willoughby

  • German firms behind half of film productions in Czech Republic this year
    12/27/2017

    Around half of the 40-plus foreign film productions in the Czech Republic this year have come from neighbouring Germany, Czech Television reported on Wednesday. German filmmakers have spent around CZK 850 million in this country in 2017.

    German companies are chiefly attracted by buildings and locations that can be used as settings for projects relating to various historical periods, while tax incentives for film and TV productions are also a strong draw.
    Author: Ian Willoughby

  • Weather forecast
    12/27/2017

    It should be overcast with snow in places in the Czech Republic on Thursday. Temperatures of up to 3 degrees Celsius are expected. Subsequent days should get warmer, with daytime highs of 8 degrees Celsius due on New Year’s Eve.
    Author: Ian Willoughby

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