• Lipavský: Global response needed to combat online manipulation
    01/17/2024

    The Czech minister of foreign affairs, Jan Lipavský, has called on the international community to come together to ensure people’s right not to be manipulated. Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Switzerland’s Davos, he said a global response was necessary to threats posed by new technologies and artificial intelligence in the online space.

    Mr. Lipavský said resilience against cyber threats had to be built around democratic culture and civil society, adding that online platform providers also had to also play a role in preventing manipulative content.
    Author: Ian Willoughby

  • Weather forecast
    01/17/2024

    It should be mainly overcast in Czechia on Thursday, with an average high temperature of 4 degrees Celsius. Clear skies are expected at the end of the week.
    Author: Ian Willoughby

  • MPs vote to guarantee ex-dissidents regular pensions
    01/17/2024

    Communist-era dissidents are set to get average state old-age pensions even if they didn’t earlier pay sufficient contributions, following a Czech lower house vote on Tuesday evening. Those who can prove their active opposition to the previous regime will see their pensions automatically levelled up under the amendment, which must now go before the Senate.

    Pre-1989 dissidents today have low pensions for reasons such as imprisonment, forced emigration or not being allowed to work in their chosen professions; many were only allowed to do menial jobs.
    Author: Ian Willoughby

  • University files suit against MP over comments following mass shooting

    01/16/2024

    Charles University has filed a lawsuit against an MP from the Freedom and Direct Democracy party following comments he made about a mass shooting at the school in December. The university said it would file criminal charges of spreading false alarm and using hate speech against Jiří Kobza.

    The politician blamed the institution for the shooting, which was carried out by a student there, saying it had helped shape his outlook through “inclusive progressive education”. Mr. Kobza deleted the comments and apologised, but Charles University rejected his show of contrition.
    Author: Ian Willoughby

  • Decision on tender for Prague Metro D line builder rescinded
    01/16/2024

    The Czech anti-trust office has abrogated a decision selecting a winner in a tender to build part of a planned fourth, “D” Metro line in Prague, Seznam Zprávy reported on Tuesday. A consortium of the firms Subterra and Hochtief had been chosen in the selection procedure.

    The Office for the Protection of Competition said the application from the winners lacked documents proving the expertise of staff members, for which points had been awarded in the evaluation.
    Author: Ian Willoughby

  • Pavel in Israel: Israeli aid to Palestinian civilians enormous

    01/16/2024

    Speaking on a two-day visit to Israel, the Czech president, Petr Pavel, said on Tuesday that the Israeli Army is providing enormous aid to Palestinian civilians. Mr. Pavel said the vast majority of such aid was not even known about. He told journalists Israel was supplying drinking water to Gaza but Hamas was destroying the pipelines, as it did not want Israel to be seen as the provider of humanitarian aid.

    The Czech head of state visited the location of Hamas attacks on Israel on October 7 and met relatives of some people kidnapped by Hamas, who he said asked him for help in achieving their return. Mr. Pavel said he had not made empty promises to the families but told them that all he could do was reach out to statesmen who could do something in this regard.

    On Wednesday he will hold talks with leaders in Qatar, which is trying to mediate negotiations between Hamas and Israel.
    Author: Ian Willoughby

  • Media: Jurečka under increasing pressure as Christian Democrats chief
    01/16/2024

    Chairman Marian Jurečka is coming under increasing pressure within the Christian Democrats, Seznam Zprávy reported on Tuesday. The governing coalition party have seen their poll numbers fall and Mr. Jurečka recently faced calls for his resignation over a Christmas party at his Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs hours after a mass shooting in Prague.

    Former Christian Democrats leader Pavel Bělobrádek has told party members change is necessary, but said it must be thoroughly discussed, Seznam Zprávy said.

    Last week a party national committee backed Mr. Jurečka retaining the chairmanship.
    Author: Ian Willoughby

  • Weather forecast
    01/16/2024

    It should be mainly overcast in Czechia on Wednesday, with an average high temperature of 3 degrees Celsius. Clear skies are expected at the end of the week.
    Author: Ian Willoughby

  • Jan Palach remembered in Prague 55 years after self-immolation
    01/16/2024

    Memorial events were held in Prague on Tuesday marking the self-immolation of Jan Palach 55 years ago, on January 16, 1969. Senate speaker Miloš Vystrčil and other senators laid a wreath at a memorial at the top of Wenceslas Square, where Palach, who was 20, set himself on fire in protest at apathy in the face of the Soviet occupation of Czechoslovakia.

    Charles University’s Karolinum building was opened for students, teaching staff and the public to pay their respects to Palach, who studied there.

    Palach died of his burns on January 19, 1969. His funeral drew large crowds and became a moment of solidarity for the nation.
    Author: Ian Willoughby

  • Czech cinema attendance down in 2023 – but box office takings up
    01/16/2024

    Attendance at Czech cinemas fell slightly in 2023, though box office takings were up year-on-year, according to data released on Tuesday by the Film Distributors Union. Some 13.3 million tickets were sold at cinemas in the country last year, a fall of 1.18 percent on 2022.

    Revenues increased by 7 percent to CZK 2.275 billion. The average price of a cinema ticket in Czechia last year was CZK 170, up from CZK 157 the previous year.
    Author: Ian Willoughby

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