• Prague applies for building permit for Vltava Philharmonic
    08/31/2026

    Prague has applied for a building permit for the planned Vltava Philharmonic concert hall, the project spokesperson said on Monday. The city expects to receive the permit in the first quarter of next year, with construction planned to begin in 2028.

    The concert hall is expected to cost around CZK 12.3 billion, excluding VAT, with another CZK 5 billion needed for improvements to the surrounding area. The building was designed by Danish architecture studio BIG.

    The Vltava Philharmonic will include five concert halls, a creative space, restaurants and other facilities. If construction goes ahead as planned, the venue could begin trial operations in 2033.
    Author: Ruth Fraňková

  • Appeals court upholds Jana Nagyová’s suspended sentence in Stork’s Nest case
    08/31/2026

    The High Court in Prague has upheld a three-year suspended sentence for MEP Jana Nagyová in the Stork’s Nest subsidy fraud case involving Prime Minister Andrej Babiš. She was also fined CZK 500,000 and given five years’ probation. The ruling is final, with only an extraordinary appeal to the Supreme Court possible.

    Nagyová denies the charges and did not attend Monday’s hearing. Her lawyer argued that the appeals court had improperly ordered the lower court to convict the defendants, but the judge rejected the argument.

    Babiš is also a defendant, but his prosecution has been suspended because of his parliamentary immunity. He has long called the case politically motivated.
    Author: Ruth Fraňková

  • Prague approves names for new metro Line D stations
    08/31/2026

    Prague city councillors have approved the names Nusle and Ryšánka for two new metro Line D stations. Three other proposed name changes were rejected, so the stations Nové Dvory, Písnice and Depo Písnice will keep their originally planned working names.

    Nádraží Krč, Nemocnice Krč and Libuš will also remain unchanged.Metro Line D will connect Písnice in southern Prague with Náměstí Míru in the city centre and should help ease traffic in the south of the capital.

    Construction of the first section began in 2022.The line is expected to open in the second half of 2032 and will use fully automated trains.
    Author: Ruth Fraňková

  • Former Czech diplomat to represent PBS Aerospace in Washington
    08/31/2026

    Former Czech diplomat Jan Havránek will represent aircraft engine maker PBS Aerospace in Washington. As the company’s new director for government relations and strategy, he will handle its relations with the US government, Congress, NATO and allied governments.

    Havránek previously served as deputy Czech ambassador to the US and as a deputy defence minister. He said he wants to use his experience in defence policy and international cooperation to help PBS expand its role in US and allied defence programmes.

    PBS Aerospace is the US subsidiary of Czech aircraft engine maker PBS Group. It has invested 20 million dollars in a production plant in Georgia and plans to invest another 90 million in expanding production of jet engines for drones and cruise missiles.
    Author: Ruth Fraňková

  • Petr Pavel to receive Armenian president at Prague Castle on Thursday
    08/31/2026

    President Petr Pavel will receive Armenian President Vahagn Khachaturyan at Prague Castle on Thursday. Khachaturyan will also meet Senate President Miloš Vystrčil and Chamber of Deputies Speaker Tomio Okamura.

    The visit comes as Armenia is seeking closer ties with the European Union. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said last week that Yerevan could soon apply for EU membership, while the European Commission said it was following Armenia’s efforts with interest.

    Armenia is formally an ally of Russia but has been strengthening its ties with the EU in recent years. Yerevan has criticized Moscow for failing to protect Armenia in its conflict with neighbouring Azerbaijan.
    Author: Ruth Fraňková

  • Czech government plans second-highest budget deficit in history
    08/31/2026

    The Czech government plans to run a budget deficit of CZK 389 billion next year, Finance Minister Alena Schillerová said on Monday after a cabinet meeting. The proposed deficit would be the second-highest in the country’s history, after the CZK 419.7 billion deficit recorded in 2021 during the Covid-19 pandemic.

    The budget proposal expects revenue to rise by 3.3 percent to CZK 2.19 trillion, while spending would increase by 6.2 percent to CZK 2.58 trillion.

    The government can still change the proposal before it is submitted to the Chamber of Deputies by the end of September. This year’s planned deficit is CZK 310 billion.
    Author: Ruth Fraňková

  • Czech economy outpaces EU average but state debt rises sharply
    08/31/2026

    The Czech economy grew faster than the EU average last year, but state debt also increased significantly, according to the Supreme Audit Office. GDP rose by 2.6 percent, compared with an EU average of 1.5 percent. State debt reached 3.7 trillion crowns, while debt-servicing costs climbed to 98 billion crowns. The office warned that low labour productivity, high energy intensity and an ageing population threaten the country’s future competitiveness. It also criticised persistent budget deficits and said government spending on transport, research and innovation was not delivering adequate results. The state budget ended last year with a 290.7-billion-crown deficit.
    Author: Vít Pohanka

  • Government to discuss draft state budget for next year
    08/31/2026

    The Czech government is due to discuss the draft state budget for next year on Monday. Finance Minister Alena Schillerová (ANO) will present changes made following negotiations with individual ministers. The Finance Ministry will then formally submit the proposal and publish the planned deficit. Schillerová has said the shortfall will be higher than this year’s planned 310 billion crowns but will remain below 400 billion. Once approved by the cabinet, the budget must be submitted to the lower house by the end of September. Ministers will also discuss changes to the Labour Code and a new law regulating platform work.
    Author: Vít Pohanka

  • Slavia beat Sparta 3-0 in Prague derby
    08/30/2026

    Slavia Prague beat city rivals Sparta 3-0 away at Letná on Sunday to remain unbeaten and top the Czech league. Wiktor Nowak opened the scoring early before Danijel Šturm and Emmanuel Ayaosi added two more goals after the break. It was Slavia’s first league victory at Sparta’s stadium since December 2020. The defending champions now lead second-placed Liberec by one point, while Sparta are seventh, five points behind Slavia. The result also ended Sparta’s seven-match unbeaten home run in league derbies.
    Author: Vít Pohanka

  • Nearly half of Czechs approve of Pavel’s approach to government
    08/30/2026

    Nearly half of Czechs consider President Petr Pavel’s approach towards the government in recent months appropriate, according to a Kantar survey for Czech Television. Some 47 percent described his conduct as proportionate, while 34 percent thought he had been too active and 12 percent wanted him to take a stronger role. Relations between the president and government representatives, particularly from the Motorists party, have been strained in recent months. The poll also found that 44 percent believe the president should both support the government and oversee its work. Kantar surveyed around 1,000 people in August.
    Author: Vít Pohanka

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