• 10/15/2024

    Daniel Koštoval, former deputy minister of defense, will be the new ambassador to Moscow, the Czech Foreign Ministry announced on Tuesday. The appointment follows the departure of the previous ambassador, Vítězslav Pivoňka, who left his post at the end of May.

    Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský expressed his confidence in Koštoval's capabilities, stating, that key countries that are strategic allies of Czechia, including Great Britain, France, Germany, and the United States, have ambassadors in Russia.

    Koštoval has already secured the necessary approval from the Russian government, known as agrément, paving the way for his official start in the role.

    Author: Ruth Fraňková
  • 10/15/2024

    Marek Novák, a member of the Parliament (ANO opposition Party) and a critic of the proposed Czech cybersecurity law, recently met with Huawei executives during a trip to China. The law, which is being debated in Parliament, could impact Huawei by imposing stricter regulations on technology providers. Novák defended the visit, describing it as a "fact-finding trip" without political engagement. Information about Novák’s visit comes amid warnings from the Czech intelligence service BIS about Chinese influence through official invitations. The BIS advises caution, as China often uses such invitations to create networks of individuals sympathetic to its interests.

    Author: Vít Pohanka
  • 10/15/2024

    General practitioners in Czechia plan to protest against the proposed reimbursement decree for 2025 by closing their practices on Tuesday, October 29, and Wednesday, October 30. During the protest, contacts for emergencies will be posted on the doors of closed clinics, according to Czech Television. Petr Šonka, chairman of the General Practitioners’ Association, expects most clinics to participate. The protest comes after negotiations with the Health Ministry failed. The doctors are dissatisfied with the proposed 2.83% rise in payments from public insurance, which they argue should be 3.3%.

    Author: Vít Pohanka
  • 10/14/2024

    Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský denied claims that Czechia delayed the issuance of a joint EU statement regarding attacks on the UN peacekeeping mission in Lebanon (UNIFIL). According to a report by DPA, consensus on the text was delayed due to Czech concerns, given its close ties with Israel. However, Lipavský argued the draft was poorly prepared. The EU statement, released Sunday evening, condemned the attacks on UNIFIL and expressed concern over Israeli military actions that injured peacekeepers, calling them violations of international law.

    Author: Vít Pohanka
  • 10/14/2024

    Weather in Czechia will be cloudy to partly cloudy. High temperatures between 10 to 14°C.

    Author: Vít Pohanka
  • 10/14/2024

    The city of Prague has banned pub crawls, the organized nighttime bar-hopping tours run by specialized agencies. The new regulation, approved by city councilors on Monday, will take effect immediately upon publication. The ban, primarily requested by the local town hall in the center of Prague, aims to address noise disturbances caused by intoxicated tourists. The decision was made after consultations with various stakeholders, including tourism officials and professional guides, who will still be allowed to operate from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. The regulation cites the negative impact of pub crawls on public order, increased noise, and the strain on city services.

    Author: Vít Pohanka
  • 10/14/2024

    Police have initiated criminal proceedings against 13 individuals for suspected bribery involving public contracts at the Prague public transport company (DPP), prosecutor Adam Borgula from the Prague High Public Prosecutor's Office confirmed. This follows a police operation at the DPP on Monday by the National Centre against Organised Crime (NCOZ). DPP is cooperating fully with investigators, though it has not yet been informed of the reasons for the intervention, according to spokesperson Aneta Řehková. Reports suggest the investigation may focus on a contract for metro security awarded around 15 years ago. The case follows a series of DPP-related probes, including the high-profile Dosimeter case, which saw several officials charged with bribery and corruption.

    Author: Vít Pohanka
  • 10/14/2024

    Russian aggression against Ukraine has spurred increased human rights violations in other countries and inspired those who disregard international norms, President Petr Pavel said on Monday at the Forum 2000 conference in Prague. He emphasized that major global powers, particularly China, should use their influence to promote peace and international cooperation. Pavel noted that countries like North Korea, Iran, Niger, and Venezuela have aligned with Russia, inspired by its aggressive actions. He called on the international community to stop the decline of global standards. The conference will continue through Tuesday.

    Author: Vít Pohanka
  • 10/14/2024

    Over 150 megawatt-hours (MWh) of electricity were exchanged through energy sharing in the Czech Republic in September, the first month after the system’s launch. Economic Daily informs that more than 4000 producers and 3500 consumers took part in the program, facilitated by the Electroenergetic Data Center (EDC). Interest in energy sharing continues to grow, with EDC receiving almost 10,500 applications by the end of September. Energy sharing, mainly from rooftop solar panels, is expected to increase further in the coming months, with a significant rise anticipated.

    Author: Vít Pohanka
  • 10/14/2024

    Minister of Labor Marian Jurečka (Christian Democrats) will propose a 6.9% salary increase for politicians next year. He also plans to discuss aligning the salary growth of judges and state prosecutors with other public officials. The government is set to reconsider salary adjustments on Wednesday. Initially, a nearly 14% increase was proposed, sparking criticism from opposition and unions. Speaking on CNN Prima political show, Jurečka also suggested adding a provision to the legislation to adjust the pension for former presidents. Additionally, the draft includes provisions for the first lady's budget.

    Author: Vít Pohanka

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