• Czech football team drops to 47th place in FIFA rankings after Euros
    07/18/2024

    Czechia’s national football team has dropped by 13 positions to 47th place in the latest FIFA rankings, their lowest ranking since April 2019, following their poor showing at the European Championships in Germany. Coach Ivan Hašek's team recorded the biggest drop of any country in the July edition of the rankings.

    Argentina held on to the top spot after their triumph at Copa América, with France coming second. The fresh European champions, Spain, jumped five places to third spot.
    Author: Ruth Fraňková

  • Media: Government to nominate Síkela to European Commission
    07/18/2024

    The Czech government will nominate the minister of industry and trade, Jozef Síkela, for the position of Czech member of the next European Commission, Deník N reported. The cabinet made an informal decision to that effect at a meeting on Wednesday, the news outlet said, citing two sources close to the matter.

    There are two other candidates for the post, recently elected MEP Danuše Nerudová of the Mayors party and Marcel Kolaja of the Pirates.

    Deník N said if Mr. Síkela was offered a relatively unimportant portfolio he might turn it down, paving the way for Mrs. Nerudová to be put forward.
    Author: Ian Willoughby

  • Fire breaks out at Czech Embassy in Paris
    07/18/2024

    A fire broke out at the Czech Embassy in Paris on Wednesday. The building was evacuated after the blaze started in an apartment and part of the embassy is now out of operation.

    Two people inhaled smoke and they and another person were taken to hospital for observation.

    The Czech ambassador to France, Michal Fleischmann, said the building, which is by the Eiffel Tower, would be open for regular business by the start of the Olympic Games next week.

  • Government delays approval of energy plan
    07/17/2024

    The Czech government on Wednesday postponed the approval of a new state energy plan and two related climate documents. Ministers said one reason was that they had been focused on a tender to build new nuclear units in Dukovany.

    The minister of industry and trade, Jozef Síkela, and the prime minister, Petr Fiala, denied suggestions that the cabinet’s green concept would lead to higher prices of energy and fuel.
    Author: Ian Willoughby

  • Weather forecast
    07/17/2024

    It should be mainly overcast in Czechia on Thursday, with an average high temperature of 27 degrees Celsius. Similar weather is expected on the following days.
    Author: Ian Willoughby

  • President to receive Wimbledon winners at Castle Thursday
    07/17/2024

    The Czech president, Petr Pavel, will receive Wimbledon winners Barbora Krejčíková and Kateřina Siniaková at Prague Castle on Thursday, his office said.

    Krejčíková won the women’s singles title for the first time on Saturday for the second Grand Slam of her tennis career. President Pavel described the win as wonderful news and good for national pride.

    Saturday also saw Siniaková, Krejčíková’s former doubles partner, take the women’s doubles trophy at the All England Club, her ninth major title.
    Author: Ian Willoughby

  • Dukovany contract, largest in history of state, goes to South Korea’s KHNP
    07/17/2024

    The Czech government has decided to award a contract to build two new nuclear units at the Dukovany power station to the South Korean company KHNP.

    France’s EDF had also been in contention for the largest tender in the history of the Czech state.

    Prime Minister Petr Fiala said on Wednesday that the cabinet had so far approved the building of two units at Dukovany. It will also discuss an option for up to two more units at the country’s second nuclear power plant, Temelín, he said.

    Mr. Fiala said KHNP’s bid had been the best in all respects. He said the price of one unit would be CZK 200 billion, but analysts say the actual price will be higher.
    Author: Ian Willoughby

  • Czechia sends helicopters to help fight Bulgaria fires
    07/17/2024

    Czechia has sent a group of fire officers to Bulgaria, where large blazes have been spreading in the Staro Zagora province. After two air rescuers and a support team with large capacity water tanks left on Tuesday, two specialised Czech helicopters were flown to the area on Wednesday morning.

    Bulgaria had appealed for help from other countries in view of the fact the fires are affecting inaccessible areas.

    Czech officials said high temperatures and very strong winds were hampering the fire-fighting effort.
    Author: Ian Willoughby

  • Most Czech MEPs to vote against re-election of von der Leyen
    07/17/2024

    The majority of the Czech members of the European Parliament will not vote for Ursula von der Leyen on Thursday when she stands for re-election as president of the European Commission, the Czech News Agency reported.

    MEPs from the Christian Democrats and TOP 09, which are part of the European People’s Party, are expected to give their backing to Ms. von der Leyen.

    Civic Democratic Party MEPs, who are in the European Conservatives and Reformists group, said on Wednesday they were still undecided.

    The Czech parties in Patriots for Europe, ANO and the Motorists and Oath, are set to vote against her. So are three other MEPs elected on the tickets of the Communist-led Enough! group and Freedom and Direct Democracy.
    Author: Ian Willoughby

  • Defeat to Danes means Czech women end bottom of Euros qualifying group
    07/17/2024

    The Czech women’s national football team lost 2:0 away to Denmark in their final qualifying game for next year’s European Championship on Tuesday evening. The result meant the Czechs finished last in their group.

    It had already been clear before the game that they would have to take part in a playoff for the Euros, which will be held in Switzerland.
    Author: Ian Willoughby

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