• 03/30/2024

    Czech arms manufacturers are thriving due to the war in Ukraine and increased tensions in the world, the news site Novinky.cz reported on Saturday.

    Some of the country’s biggest companies in the field declared record revenues last year, such as Colt CZ, which reported almost CZK 15 billion. Czechoslovak Group (CSG) and Omnipol also registered very good results in 2023.

    This year is looking even more favourable for most Czech arms companies, Novinky.cz said. Supply chains are slowly improving, banks’ willingness to lend is higher and energy prices have fallen.

    Author: Ian Willoughby
  • 03/30/2024

    A five-tonne revolving metal head of the movie director David Lynch by the Czech artist David Černý has been installed in Santa Monica, California, Los Angeles Magazine reported. The 21-foot-high structure stands in front of a new apartment complex in the city.

    The artwork is reminiscent of a revolving head of writer Franz Kafka in Prague by Mr. Černý, which has become a popular destination for tourists in recent years.

    Author: Ian Willoughby
  • 03/30/2024

    The relatives of nine men who died in a fire at a mental hospital in Veyprty, North Bohemia four years ago are seeking a total of more than CZK 14.5 million in compensation, the news outlet Deník N reported.

    The state prosecutor has charged Viktor Koláček, the director of the local social services authority in Vejprty, in connection with the case. He faces three to 10 years in prison for general reckless endangerment if found guilty.

    Author: Ian Willoughby
  • 03/30/2024

    Only 21 percent of Czechs today make pomlázky, the symbolic whip made from willow branches, suggests a survey for the Median agency conducted for the news site iRozhlas.cz. Fewer people decorate their homes and paint Easter eggs than in the past, the survey indicates, while seasonal carol singing is considerably less common.

    The poll suggests that Czechs most commonly – 40 percent – regard the Easter holiday as a primarily a symbol of the coming of spring.

    Some 22 percent of respondents said they attended a church service in connection with the holiday.

    Author: Ian Willoughby
  • 03/30/2024

    The Czech foreign minister, Jan Lipavský, was the target of hackers linked to China, Politico reported. Mr. Lipavský and other members of a coalition of lawmakers critical of Beijing called the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China (IPAC), including the UK’s Europe minister, were the victims of a targeted attack on email addresses in 2021, the news site said.

    The Czech foreign policy chief told Politico that the revelation proved the assessment of his country’s Security Strategy, which says that the rising assertiveness of China is a systemic challenge that needs to be dealt with in coordination with trans-Atlantic allies.

    The US, the UK and other countries released information about the online campaign by Chinese state-linked hackers this week.

    Author: Ian Willoughby
  • 03/30/2024

    It should be mainly overcast in Czechia on Sunday, with an average high temperature of 20 degrees Celsius. Lower temperatures are expected on the following days.

    Author: Ian Willoughby
  • 03/29/2024

    Nine coalitions and 17 political parties have to date registered their electoral accounts for June’s European Parliament elections with the relevant official body in Czechia, the Czech News Agency reported on Friday. Parties must submit their lists of candidates for the elections by next Tuesday.

    During the last European Parliament elections five year ago 40 different groups took part.

    The Together coalition, which includes government parties the Civic Democrats, TOP 09 and the Christian Democrats, will run as an alliance again in the elections. The Pirates and the Mayors, who stood in the last general elections in a coalition, will stand separately this time. The main opposition party ANO will also campaign independently, while Freedom and Direct Democracy will run with Tricolour, another anti-EU party.

    Author: Ian Willoughby
  • 03/29/2024

    The speaker of the Czech lower house, Markéta Pekarová Adamová of TOP 09, says it would be irresponsible to hold a vote on ratifying the Istanbul Convention at present, given the unclear level of support for it among MPs.

    She said that this risked a definitive Czech rejection of the accord, which is designed to protect women.

    Pirate Party leader Ivan Bartoš has called for a vote on the matter in the Chamber of Deputies. The Czech Senate in January voted against ratifying the convention, which the country has already signed up to.

    Author: Ian Willoughby
  • 03/29/2024

    Interest in special Easter beers and green beer continues to grow in Czechia, the Czech News Agency reported on Saturday. Some breweries have made more such brews for Easter this year than last year, though due to inflation and rising costs drinkers can expect to pay more than at this time 12 months previouslyl.

    Some people in Czechia consume green beer on Maundy Thursday, which is called Green Thursday in Czech. One brewery, Bohemia Regent, said it had prepared 117 hectolitres more of the beverage than in 2023.

    Author: Ian Willoughby
  • 03/29/2024

    Poland’s ABW counter-intelligence service is investigating the activities of a Russian network targeting EU member states and institutions, a government official said on Friday, the new site onet.pl reported.

    The Polish government is cooperating with the Czech secret service, BIS, after the latter uncovered a Russian-financed influence network in Czechia that was reportedly seeking to undermine political processes in six EU states. The implicated subjects were placed on the country’s own sanctions list.

    Meanwhile Politico reported that the Belgian prime minister, Alexander De Croo, referred to the case in his country’s parliament on Friday.

    Author: Ian Willoughby

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