• Fewer Russians have Czech residence than at start of war
    08/13/2023

    After years of growth, the number of Russians officially living in Czechia has fallen, the Czech News Agency reported on Sunday, citing official data. At the end of June this year 42,500 Russian nationals had permits to reside in Czechia, a fall of around 3,600 on the figure recorded in March 2022, when Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

    The number of Russians with work permits in Czechia increased in the same period by around 1,300 to 20,200, while there was a fall in the number of Russians studying at Czech universities.
    Author: Ian Willoughby

  • Study: More Ukrainian refugees paying for own accommodation
    08/12/2023

    More and more refugees from Ukraine are paying for their own accommodation in Czechia, the Czech News Agency reported on Saturday, citing a study. Whereas in June 2022 a quarter paid for their housing in full and a tenth contributed to it, more than half of refugees now cover their own expenses and another 17 % pay part of the cost.

    Ukrainian refugees are gradually moving into rented accommodation and one-fifth remain in state facilities.

    The data comes from a regular survey published by the agency PAQ Research.
    Author: Ian Willoughby

  • Data protection office wants info on police facial recognition system
    08/12/2023

    The national Office for Personal Data Protection has asked the Czech police for information pertaining to a facial recognition system employing artificial intelligence that it has been using for almost a year, Novinky.cz reported on Saturday. The system can be used to scan photographs and video recordings, the news site said.

    The Office for Personal Data Protection says the police did not even consult the matter with it.

    The police say they may use the facial recognition technology under a section of the law on the force’s operation, though some lawyers contest this.
    Author: Ian Willoughby

  • Last Czech in Canadian Open Kvitová knocked out
    08/12/2023

    Petra Kvitová has been knocked out in the round of 16 at the Canadian Open in Montreal. On Friday the Czech lost 7-6 3-6 1-6 to Belinda Bencic of Switzerland in a game that had been delayed from Thursday. Both players had to receive treatment in the third set. Two-time Wimbledon champion Kvitová, who is 33, was the last Czech representative in the competition.
    Author: Ian Willoughby

  • Tens of thousands attend Pride parade in Prague

    08/12/2023

    A parade through Prague on Saturday represented the culmination of the 13th edition of Prague Pride, an annual festival celebrating LGBT culture whose theme this year is “More traditional than you think”.

    Tens of thousands of people, including a number of Czech politicians and members of Prague’s diplomatic community, took part in the parade, which ran from the lower part of Wenceslas Square via Old Town Square to Letná Plain. The celebrations were due to continue at Letná with live music and other events until 10 pm.
    Author: Ian Willoughby

  • Agency: Euro adoption may be issue in 2025 elections
    08/12/2023

    Czechia’s possible adoption of the single European currency could be an issue in general elections scheduled for two years’ time, the Czech News Agency wrote on Saturday. The current coalition is divided on the matter, though even the previously eurosceptic Civic Democrats, who lead the government, have been discussing euro adoption, it said. TOP 09 back the introduction of the currency, while the Mayors and the Pirates – which also support it – say it will be a major task to explain its benefits to the public.

    Civic Democrat PM Petr Fiala recently said that Czechia should meet a key criterion for euro adoption next year: bringing the state budget deficit below 3 percent of GDP.
    Author: Ian Willoughby

  • Plzeň court puts Ukrainian accused in rape case in custody
    08/12/2023

    A court in Plzeň has placed in custody an 18-year-old foreigner charged on Thursday with the rape and attempted murder of a 15-year-old girl. The mayor of Plzeň said that in view of the tensions sparked by the case he would reveal that the man was Ukrainian but was not a refugee.

    The minister of the interior, Vít Rakušan, warned against violence, spreading hatred and generalisation and called on people to let the police do their jobs.

    The Ukrainian Embassy in Prague condemned the act of violence in Plzeň and expressed sympathy for the victim.
    Author: Ian Willoughby

  • Weather forecast
    08/12/2023

    It should be mainly overcast in Czechia on Sunday, with an average high temperature of 27 degrees Celsius. Clear skies are expected early next week.
    Author: Ian Willoughby

  • Weather forecast
    08/11/2023

    Saturday should be partly cloudy with day temperatures between 26 and 30 degrees Celsius.

  • Rape of 15-year-old whips up wave of hate against Ukrainians in Plzen
    08/11/2023

    The rape of a 15-year-old girl in Plzen has raised a wave of hate against Ukrainians on social networks and people are organizing a protest rally against Ukrainian refugees in the city centre on Saturday, the news site Novinky reported. City officials and police have been trying to diffuse the tension by providing additional details relating to the case. According to the police the perpetrator of the crime, who is in custody, is a foreign national with long-term residence here, not one of the newly-arrived war refugees.

    The young girl reportedly knew her attacker and went out with him willingly, but he dragged her into a forest, raped and attempted to kill her. Police say she survived by pretending to be dead.
    Author: Daniela Lazarová

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