News

Conservationists in the Moravian Karst Protected Landscape Area in Blansko have closed part of the region to tourists so as to protect seven newly-hatched peregrine falcons which are being monitored in  two nests. The falcons made their nests right above a hiking trail and the newly hatched birds belong to a protected species. The area should remain closed for three months. The falcons are being monitored by ornithologists, whose unique photographs and videos have given nature lovers the chance to follow their development inside the nests.

People who still have banknotes in the denominations of CZK 100, 200, 500, 1000 and 2000 issued between 1995 and 1999, which expired in June 2022, only have until the end of the month to get them exchanged at the cash desks of any bank in the country, the central bank said. The banknotes, which are recognizable by their narrow silver stripe, were taken out of circulation two years ago. From July 1, 2024, only central bank cash desks will accept them.

Czech President Petr Pavel is attending a summit of the eastern wing of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation in the Latvian capital Riga. The meeting is to align national positions on security and defense issues ahead of NATO’s July summit in Washington. Participants are discussing continued support for Ukraine and better coordination of aid to the country, NATO’s partnership with countries of the Indo-Pacific region and NATO's future relationship with Russia, among others. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg is present at the talks.

Year-on-year inflation in Czechia decreased from 2.9 percent in April to 2.6 percent in May, according to the latest figures from the Czech Statistics Office. Grocery prices were the main contributing factor, with the price of flour and eggs, for example, dropping significantly (by 23.5 percent) compared to last May. Fruit and meat also got cheaper, 6.7 and 5.8 percent respectively. However, the month-on-month inflation rate did not change.