• 09/26/2024

    Officials at construction offices will be given the opportunity to return to the systems used before the digitalization of building permit procedures as soon as possible, Transport Minister Martin Kupka (Civic Democratic Party) said after taking over responsibility for the project from the outgoing Deputy Prime Minister for Digitization Ivan Bartoš (Pirate Party). Mr. Kupka said experts are currently seeking a way to link the builder's portal with the former systems and everything possible would be done to minimize the damage, which is already considerable and has led to Ivan Bartoš dismissal from the government. In the meantime, he said, work will continue on improving the newly digitized systems launched unsuccessfully on July 1. The minister will submit a plan on how to proceed with the digitization to the government by October 16.

  • 09/26/2024

    In his speech to the UN Security Council, Czech President Petr Pavel reminded China of its responsibilities as a permanent member of the Council, urging Beijing to use its close relationship with Moscow to help secure an end to the bloodshed in Ukraine. “Membership of the UN Security Council is not just a privilege, it is, above all, a responsibility to defend global peace and security, which is entrusted to the members of the Council by others, Czech President Petr Pavel said at Wednesday's Security Council meeting on "Leadership for Peace" in New York. It is not sustainable for China to continue to fuel the current global security threat by supplying the tools Russia needs to strengthen its military against Ukraine and its people," Pavel said.

  • 09/26/2024

    The Pirate Party confirmed its exit from the Czech government following Prime Minister Petr Fiala's (Civic Democratic Party) decision to remove Deputy Prime Minister Ivan Bartoš by the end of September, due to unresolved issues with the digitalization of the construction permit process. Marian Jurečka (Cristian Democrats), Minister of Labour and Social Affairs, will temporarily take over the Ministry for Regional Development.

    Fiala said that discussions will continue about the future of the coalition, and that the government remains stable despite the Pirates' departure. The coalition, even without the Pirates' four seats, retains a majority in the 200-member Parliament. The Pirates will vote on their exit on an online forum over the weekend.

    Author: Vít Pohanka
  • 09/26/2024

    Czech President Petr Pavel called for the reform of the Security Council which would make it more effective, inclusive, accountable, and better reflecting today's realities. In his speech to the General Assemby, Pavel said that UN should allow for more effective action in responding and adapting to current trends. These include, in particular, the use of new technologies, stronger protection of the environment and a response to climate change.

    On Thursday, President Pavel will continue his US visit in Chicago, where he will speak at the University of Chicago and pay tribute to former Czechoslovak President Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk, who lectured there in the early 1900s. Pavel will also meet with the local Czech community. In addition to his address, Pavel will participate in a roundtable on security threats and the role of innovation and new technologies. He is set to meet Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson. Later this week, he will visit the National Czech & Slovak Museum in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

    Author: Vít Pohanka
  • 09/25/2024

    In his speech at the UN General Assembly, Czech President Petr Pavel called for the reform of the Security Council which would make it more effective, inclusive, accountable, and better reflecting today's realities. Changing the way the UN operates, Pavel said, should allow for more effective action in  responding and adapting to current trends. These include, in particular, the use of new technologies, stronger protection of the environment and a response to climate change.

    The Czech president said states should stand side by side to find solutions to difficult problems and problems that have spiraled out of control. He said greater pressure should be exerted on Russia to end its war on Ukraine, noting that Security Council membership is not "a carte blanche," and that no one has the right to "abuse power and bully other members" of the international community without sanctions.

  • 09/25/2024

    Deputy Prime Minister Ivan Bartoš has confirmed that the Pirate Party will leave the government following his unexpected dismissal from government posts. Bartoš said that the party’s two remaining cabinet ministers, Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský and Minister for Legislation Michal Šalomoun, would hand in their resignation once the decision to walk out of the government was officially sanctioned by an online vote of party members on Monday.

    Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský, who is attending the 79th session of the UN Generally Assembly in New York, has said that if the Pirate Party decides to leave the government he will offer his resignation and simultaneously leave the ranks of the Pirate Party. Lipavský said he could not identify with some of the statements made about the government at Tuesday’s press conference of the Pirate Party. Prime Minister Fiala made it clear he did not want to lose Lipavský as foreign minister and President Pavel also said it would be unfortunate to have a change-of-guard at the top foreign ministry post.

  • 09/25/2024

    The Fiala cabinet on Wednesday approved a draft budget for 2025 with a deficit of CZK 241 billion. The proposal won support from all ministers with the exception of Regional Development Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Ivan Bartoš who has been dismissed from government posts and will leave the Fiala administration at the end of the month. The government had originally planned for a deficit of 230 billion, but due to flood damage, it widened the deficit to 241 billion. The cabinet also upped the budget for this year so as to cover flood damages, increasing the deficit by CZK 30 billion to CZK 282 billion as a result of the floods.

    The prime minister also announced that the regional development portfolio would temporarily be administered by Labour and Social Affairs Minister Marian Jurečka.

  • 09/25/2024

    Ivan Bartoš, the outgoing chair of the Pirate Party whom the prime minister has dismissed from the cabinet, on Wednesday met with Vít Rakušan, leader of the Mayors and Independents with whom the Pirate Party was in a coalition when it entered the government, to discuss the ongoing government crisis. The Pirates are likely to leave the government in protest against the dismissal of their leader, but Bartoš said he did not call on the Mayors and Independents to act in solidarity and walk out with them. He said the talks had focussed on a number of policy program priorities with which the two parties had entered the government and which still need to be fulfilled.

  • 09/25/2024

    Thursday should be cloudy to overcast with scattered showers and daytime highs between 18 and 22 degrees Celsius.

  • 09/25/2024

    One of the country’s most popular actresses, Jiřina Bohdalová has been hospitalized and is in serious condition, Novinky.cz reported. The ninety-three-year-old actress is reported to be in intensive care at the Na Homolce Hospital as a result of food poisoning. No further details have been released.

    Jiřina Bohdalová has excelled in hundreds of productions over the years, picking up two Czech Lion Awards, a Thalia Award for Lifetime Achievement and many others. She was active in film until 2023.

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