• Labour Ministry: One in five people retired from unemployment before the COVID-19 pandemic
    07/04/2026

    One in five people in the Czech Republic entered retirement from the unemployment register in the years before the COVID-19 pandemic. Among those who took early retirement, the figure was two in five. Most people registered with the Labour Office 11 to 12 months before retirement, according to an analysis of the motivations for early retirement prepared by the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs.

    The analysis suggests that for some people, unemployment serves as an exit strategy from the labour market, helping them financially bridge the period before they become eligible for a pension.

    "Unemployment is common in the pre-retirement period. At least one period of unemployment before retirement is recorded for approximately 30% of people, and for 21%, unemployment registration is the last observed status before their pension is granted," the report's authors stated.
    Author: Romana Grajcarová

  • Czechoslovak film to be featured in restored films section at Venice Film Festival
    07/03/2026

    A Czechoslovak film will be presented in the Venezia Classici section of the Venice Film Festival this year – Valerie and Her Week of Wonders by director Jaromil Jireš, the festival announced today. The section will showcase a total of 19 restored films from around the world.

    The restored version of the 1970 film, starring Jaroslava Schallerová in the lead role, will be brought to Venice by the National Film Archive. The horror film is an adaptation of the novel of the same name by Vítězslav Nezval
    Author: Romana Grajcarová

  • Office of the President confirms Pavel will fly to Ankara summit on government aircraft on Tuesday
    07/03/2026

    Petr Pavel will depart on Tuesday morning aboard a government aircraft from the military airport in Prague–Kbely to Ankara for a NATO summit, the Office of the President confirmed today. A briefing is scheduled for 08:30 prior to departure. According to Czech News Agency information, the government special carrying a delegation consisting of Prime Minister Andrej Babiš (ANO), Foreign Minister Petr Macinka (Motorists), and Defence Minister Jaromír Zůna (for SPD) is due to depart from the same airport shortly before the president’s flight.

    A dispute over participation in the NATO summit between the government and the president has lasted for several months. The cabinet initially did not include Pavel in the delegation, prompting the president to file a competence lawsuit. In a preliminary ruling, the Constitutional Court ordered the government to ensure the head of state’s participation.
    Author: Romana Grajcarová

  • Sales of new passenger cars in first half of the year rose by nearly 6% to 129,810 vehicles
    07/03/2026

    Sales of new passenger cars in the Czech Republic increased by 5.85% year on year to 129,810 vehicles in the first half of this year. In June alone, the market recorded a nearly 19% rise in sales to 26,398 vehicles, the highest monthly figure since 2018. The strongest demand was for the Škoda brand, while interest in vehicles with alternative powertrains continues to grow, the Czech Car Importers Association said in a press release today.

    Volkswagen ranked second with 9,919 vehicles sold, followed by Hyundai with 8,292. Toyota and Dacia took the next positions. The best-selling models were the Škoda Octavia (9,716), Škoda Kodiaq (7,808), and Škoda Kamiq (6,412), followed by other Škoda models such as the Karoq, Scala, and Fabia.
    Author: Romana Grajcarová

  • Weather forecast
    07/03/2026

    Clear to partly cloudy, with increasing cloud cover from the northwest in the afternoon and evening. In the evening, scattered showers or light intermittent rain may occur in the north and northwest. Highest daytime temperatures will range from 20 °C to 25 °C, reaching up to 27 °C in South Moravia.

  • Almost two daily doses of medicine per person in Czechia last year
    07/03/2026

    Each person in the Czech Republic received an average of nearly two defined daily doses of medication last year. The daily average stood at almost 1,992 doses per 1,000 inhabitants, which is 143 more than in 2021. In total, 267 million packs of medicines worth nearly CZK 105 billion at manufacturer prices were delivered to pharmacies and healthcare facilities in Czechia last year, according to the annual report of the State Institute for Drug Control (SÚKL).

    More than 66,000 medicines were registered, with around 650 new ones added. In practice, 9,702 of them were actually marketed, and more than 6,600 were covered by public health insurance. Over the past two years, the number of registered medicines increased by around 3,000, while the number of marketed and reimbursed medicines slightly declined.
    Author: Romana Grajcarová

  • Karlovy Vary Film Festival opens today with Dustin Hoffman honoured
    07/03/2026

    The 60th edition of the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival will open this afternoon. During the opening ceremony, two-time Academy Award winner Dustin Hoffman will receive the Crystal Globe for Outstanding Artistic Contribution to World Cinema. American director, screenwriter, and actress Maggie Gyllenhaal will be presented with the Festival President's Award at the start of the event. The festival will open with the Argentine-Spanish documentary The Match, which chronicles the 1986 FIFA World Cup match between Argentina and England.
    Author: Romana Grajcarová

  • Czech billionaires eye stake in Italian tyre maker Pirelli
    07/03/2026

    Czech businessmen Michal Strnad and Pavel Tykač are interested in buying part of the stake held by China's Sinochem in the Italian tyre manufacturer Pirelli, the Italian daily Corriere della Sera wrote on Friday, citing informed sources.

    The two investors are reportedly looking to acquire a 10 to 20 percent stake in the company. At current market prices, Pirelli has a market value of around 7.5 billion euros, or roughly 181 billion Czech crowns.

    The report says the talks are still at an early stage, with differing views on the company's valuation between the Czech investors and Sinochem seen as the main obstacle to a deal.
    Author: Ruth Fraňková

  • Czech cereal harvest forecast to fall by nearly 16 percent
    07/03/2026

    Czech farmers are expected to harvest just under 6.47 million tonnes of basic cereals this year, according to the Czech Statistical Office's first crop estimate, released on Friday. That is 15.9 percent less than last year and well below the five-year average.

    The rapeseed harvest is also forecast to decline, falling 17.1 percent year on year to around 847,000 tonnes.

    The lower harvest is mainly the result of exceptionally dry weather in the spring, which has left farmers expecting a below-average cereal crop this year.
    Author: Ruth Fraňková

  • Lehečka and Bouzková reach third round at Wimbledon
    07/02/2026

    Jiří Lehečka and Marie Bouzková have advanced to the third round of The Championships, Wimbledon. The 13th seed Lehečka defeated Slovakia's Alex Molčan 6-3, 6-2, 6-4, while the 21st-seeded Bouzková beat Italy's Tyra Caterina Grant 7-5, 6-3.

    Meanwhile, Karolína Plíšková was knocked out in the second round after losing 6-1, 6-3 to defending champion Iga Świątek.
    Author: Ruth Fraňková

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