• 08/30/2024

    A number of well-known personalities and representatives of minorities have signed a petition calling on democratic-minded parties to publicly distance themselves from political marketing that stirs up hatred in society. The call came in response to a campaign by the Freedom and Direct Democracy Party which put up billboards of Romani boys smoking cigarettes which the signatories described as “openly racist” and “an unacceptable abuse of children in campaigning". The petition was signed by theatre director Břetislav Rychlík, the director of the Museum of Romani Culture, Jana Horváthová, musician Iva Bittová, auxiliary bishop of Prague and Charter 77 signatory Václav Malý, priest Tomáš Halík, former politician Petr Pithart and director of the Romea organization Zdeněk Ryšavý.

  • 08/30/2024

    Explosives experts have detonated an unexploded aerial WWII bomb discovered on the grounds of the chemical plant near Litvínov last week. The operation was successful and the area will remain closed for several more hours. Some 140 firefighters were onsite for the operation. The police closed off an area of 2,000 metres around the site and rerouted traffic so as to ensure public safety. People have been requested to stay away from the area for the time being.

  • 08/30/2024

    The Czech government is set to broaden its espionage laws to criminalize the unauthorized disclosure of non-public or private information that could endanger national security. This move follows calls from domestic intelligence agencies, including the Security Information Service (BIS), to address gaps in the current legislation. Czechia is one of the countries where Russian intelligence services have been particularly aggressive. The new law will introduce a criminal offense termed "unauthorized activity for a foreign power," carrying penalties of up to five years in prison, or up to 15 years in cases of a heightened threat or war. The change aims to enhance law enforcement's ability to counter hostile intelligence activities on Czech soil.

    Author: Vít Pohanka
  • 08/30/2024

    The Globsec international conference, which opened in Prague on Friday, will hear keynote speeches by Czech President Petr Pavel and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. The three-day event is hosting around ten prime ministers and presidents, along with twenty defense and foreign ministers from across Europe, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia. This year's theme, "How to Calm the Storm," focuses on security and international relations. Together with Bred Smith, chief of Microsoft, President Pavel will also participate in the launch of the GeoTech Center, a platform aimed at bridging political and technological leadership between the US and Europe. Later, Pavel will join a panel on overcoming polarization, alongside Czech EU Commissioner Věra Jourová.

    Author: Vít Pohanka
  • 08/29/2024

    The 19th annual Globsec security conference kicked off with a music festival on Prague's Štvanice Island on Thursday. The event featured performances by prominent Czech artists. Some conference participants, including Globsec founder and president Róbert Vass, also spoke. The conference, previously held in Bratislava, has moved to Prague and will run from August 30 to September 1 at the Hilton Hotel. Around 2,000 guests from over 70 countries are expected, including European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen, 10 Prime Ministers and Presidents, and a strong Ukrainian delegation.

    Author: Vít Pohanka
  • 08/29/2024

    The Czech ammunition initiative is delivering as promised, with all deliveries proceeding as agreed, a fact appreciated by Ukraine, Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky (Pirate Party) said at a ministerial meeting in Brussels. The initiative aims to provide Ukraine with 100,000 pieces of ammunition by August and potentially up to 500,000 large-caliber munitions by the end of the year. Ukraine, facing delays in military aid from other sources, emphasized the importance of air defense systems during discussions with EU foreign ministers. Additionally, Czechia continues to advocate for restricting the movement of Russian diplomats within the Schengen area to curb espionage activities.

    Author: Vít Pohanka
  • 08/29/2024

    A new memorial was unveiled on Thursday in Ostrava-Zábřeh to honor the victims of the heaviest bombing of Ostrava during World War II. On August 29, 1944, 400 American bombers targeted industrial facilities, but many bombs hit residential areas, resulting in over 400 civilian deaths. The 2.5-meter-tall memorial, created by Ostrava sculptor Lukáš Dvorský, is made of special steel that will develop a uniform rusty appearance over time. Located near the "V Troskách" street, the memorial serves as a poignant reminder of the devastation caused by the bombing, which destroyed 123 buildings and damaged 1,500 more.

    Author: Vít Pohanka
  • 08/29/2024

    The Czech government coalition has agreed to slow down the increase in the retirement age as part of the pension reform. Instead of raising the retirement age by up to two months per year, as initially planned, it will now increase by just one month annually. This change will be proposed in the ongoing pension reform bill in the Chamber of Deputies next week, according to Minister of Labor Marian Jurečka (Christian Democrats). The adjustment aims to address public concerns while maintaining the reform's goal of ensuring the sustainability of the pension system, which is currently in deficit.

    Author: Vít Pohanka
  • 08/29/2024

    Skoda Auto has commenced production of the Octavia model at its Kvasiny plant in East Bohemia, following the transfer of the fourth-generation Superb production to the Volkswagen plant in Bratislava. This move allows the main plant in Mlada Boleslav to focus on producing electric models like the Enyaq, Enyaq Coupe, and Elroq. The Kvasiny plant continues to produce Kodiaq and Karoq SUVs, with the Octavia now being produced on the same line as the Karoq. To support this expansion, Skoda Auto opened a Kc25m training center in Kvasiny earlier this year, focusing on robotics and automation.

    Author: Vít Pohanka
  • 08/29/2024

    According to the Czech Statistical Office (ČSÚ), the number of students in preschools and primary schools in the Czechia slightly decreased between the past two school years, while the number of high school students increased. Preschools saw a decline of 4,714 children, and primary school enrollment dropped by 0.7%. Conversely, high school enrollment grew by 4.7% compared to the previous year. The rise in high school students marks a 15.2% increase over the past five years. This shift reflects broader demographic trends and migration patterns in the country.

    Author: Vít Pohanka

Pages