• Public transport numbers still not recovered to pre-covid levels
    07/17/2023

    The number of people using public transport in Czechia has still not returned to pre-covid levels, according to official data published by the Ministry of Transport. There were 107 million fewer passengers on Czech public transport in the first quarter of this year compared to 2019, i.e. the year before restrictions on travel were introduced due to the pandemic. All types of public transport showed a decrease, with 5.5 million fewer inter-city rail passengers, 1.1 million fewer inter-city bus passengers, and 101 million fewer passengers taking integrated urban public transport such as trams and the metro.
    Author: Anna Fodor

  • Písek forest fire damage estimated at CZK 10 million
    07/17/2023

    The preliminary estimate for the damage caused by the forest fire near the South Bohemian town of Písek is CZK 10 million, the Czech News Agency reported on Monday. The fire started in a field on Saturday and spread to a nearby forest, damaging some 40 hectares, but has been under control since Sunday. Firefighters continued to work on extinguishing the fire overnight but it is expected to take a few more days before it is fully put out.
    Author: Anna Fodor

  • Mortgage volume in June highest since summer 2022
    07/17/2023

    The total value and number of new mortgages granted in June was the highest since July last year when the housing market began to noticeably freeze, according to statistics from the Czech Banking Association Hypomonitor. Banks and building societies provided property loans worth a total of CZK 14 billion in June, an increase of 13 percent compared to May. Nevertheless, in recent months, the total value of approved mortgages has still remained roughly half of what it was in the first half of 2020.

    The interest rate for truly new mortgages without refinancing fell ever so slightly from 5.9 percent in May to 5.86 percent in June.
    Author: Anna Fodor

  • At least four people drown in Czechia over weekend
    07/17/2023

    At least four people drowned in Czechia over the past weekend while swimming in open water, the Czech Red Cross water rescue service has informed.

    According to rescuers, Czechia has a higher number of drownings per capita than France, Germany, Italy and other countries. Between 180 and 200 people died in the country every year during water activities.

    On Saturday, the Water Rescue Service launched a campaign urging the public to exercise caution when entering the water and not to swim far from the shore.
    Author: Ruth Fraňková

  • Strýcová and Hsieh claim their second Wimbledon women’s doubles title
    07/17/2023

    Czech tennis player Barbora Strýcová and her Taiwanese partner Su-Wei Hsies have won their second Wimbledon title in the doubles category. The pair defeated third seeds Elise Mertens of Belgium and Storm Hunter of Australia 7-6, 6-4. Strýcová, who is 37, came out of retirement this year after giving birth to a son and says this is her last Wimbledon.

    Czechs were also successful in the Junior Wimbledon Girls’ doubles. The Czech couple Alena Kovačková and Laura Samsonová won the title against the British pairing of Hannah Klugman and Isabelle Lacy, defeating them 6-4, 7-5.
    Author: Ruth Fraňková

  • Masters of Rock festival attracts 20,000 visitors
    07/16/2023

    The 19th annual Masters of Rock festival, which took place in Vizovice in South Moravia, attracted some 20,000 visitors from all over the world, the organizers have said.

    Over the past four days, fans could see concerts by Germen trash metal legend Kreator or the Dutch symphonic metal band Within Temptation. The festival will come to a close on Sunday evening with a concert by the Swedish death metal band Amon Amarth.
    Author: Ruth Fraňková

  • Blues legend Buddy Guy to perform in Prague on Sunday
    07/16/2023

    Legendary American blues guitarist Buddy Guy will perform at Prague’s Congress Centre on Sunday evening as part of his farewell tour called Damn Right Farewell.

    The 86-year-old eight-time Grammy winner will perform his best-known hits as well as songs from his most recent album The Blues Don’t Lie released last September.

    The supporting act will be Guy’s long-time collaborator, songwriter and producer Tom Hambridge.
    Author: Ruth Fraňková

  • Weather forecast
    07/16/2023

    Monday will be mostly overcast with rain and day temperatures ranging between 25 and 30 degrees Celsius.
    Author: Ruth Fraňková

  • Monoxylon IV expedition returns to Czechia
    07/16/2023

    The Czech experimental archaeological expedition dubbed Monoxylon IV returned to Czechia on Sunday. The team of architects from the University of Hradec Králové covered an approximately 500-kilometre route stretching from Samos, off the Turkish coast, past the Aegean island of Milos, all the way to the Peloponnese in Greece.

    The aim of the expedition was to trace a hypothetical sea trading route from that era between Greece and modern-day Turkey. As of Tuesday, the vessel will be part of an exhibition in an archaeological park in Všestary in central Bohemia.
    Author: Ruth Fraňková

  • Summer school for students of Czech kicks off in Olomouc
    07/16/2023

    The 37th edition of Summer School of Slavonic Languages began on Sunday at Palacký University in Olomouc. The annual three-week program is meant to introduce students from all over the world to Czech language, culture and literature.

    This year, some 100 students from all over the world, including Iran, Egypt and Brazil, will be participating in the program. The largest group of students by country, 15, came from Poland.
    Author: Ruth Fraňková

Pages