News

The lower house of the Czech parliament has approved the state budget for this year with a deficit of 310 billion crowns. It is the first budget drafted by the coalition government led by Prime Minister Andrej Babiš (ANO). The proposal passed with 103 coalition votes against 88 from the opposition, ending a period in which the country had been operating under a provisional budget. During the final vote, lawmakers also approved several coalition-backed changes, including an additional 800 million crowns for sports infrastructure and smaller increases for youth organisations and the MEDEVAC humanitarian programme. The budget will now go to President Petr Pavel for signature.

President Petr Pavel met Czech soldiers stationed at the Ādaži military base in Latvia on Wednesday, speaking with them about international cooperation as well as everyday life during the mission. Around 50 Czech troops, mostly from the 153rd Engineer Battalion based in Olomouc, are currently deployed there as part of NATO’s forward presence strengthening the alliance’s eastern flank. The soldiers operate within a multinational brigade led by Canada and also including troops from Spain, Slovakia and Albania. Czech engineers support unit mobility and help limit enemy movement while gaining experience from cooperation with allied forces. Pavel, a former Czech army chief and NATO Military Committee chairman, also asked the soldiers about the winter conditions and opportunities for sports and recreation.

Former Manchester United and Denmark goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel has criticised Tottenham coach Igor Tudor for substituting Czech goalkeeper Antonín Kinský just 15 minutes into Tuesday’s Champions League round-of-16 match against Atlético Madrid. Commenting for CBS Sports, Schmeichel stated the decision could damage the young keeper’s career. Kinský endured a difficult debut in the competition, with mistakes leading to two early goals before Tottenham fell behind 3–0. Tudor replaced the 22-year-old with first-choice goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario. Several former goalkeepers, including David De Gea, expressed sympathy for Kinský, while Tudor said he made the change to protect both the player and the team.

More than half of Czechs say they have reduced their spending over the past year, most often by limiting visits to restaurants and cutting back on alcohol, according to a survey by the STEM/MARK agency cited by the Czech Press Agency. The poll found that 30 percent of respondents said their financial situation had worsened, while about half reported no change. People also said they were saving money by reducing spending on entertainment, clothing, food and holidays. Women were more likely than men to report cutting expenses. Analysts say the results reflect cautious consumer behaviour, even though average wages in Czechia have continued to rise in the past year.