News

Czech arms manufacturers are thriving due to the war in Ukraine and increased tensions in the world, the news site Novinky.cz reported on Saturday.

Some of the country’s biggest companies in the field declared record revenues last year, such as Colt CZ, which reported almost CZK 15 billion. Czechoslovak Group (CSG) and Omnipol also registered very good results in 2023.

This year is looking even more favourable for most Czech arms companies, Novinky.cz said. Supply chains are slowly improving, banks’ willingness to lend is higher and energy prices have fallen.

The relatives of nine men who died in a fire at a mental hospital in Veyprty, North Bohemia four years ago are seeking a total of more than CZK 14.5 million in compensation, the news outlet Deník N reported.

The state prosecutor has charged Viktor Koláček, the director of the local social services authority in Vejprty, in connection with the case. He faces three to 10 years in prison for general reckless endangerment if found guilty.

The Czech foreign minister, Jan Lipavský, was the target of hackers linked to China, Politico reported. Mr. Lipavský and other members of a coalition of lawmakers critical of Beijing called the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China (IPAC), including the UK’s Europe minister, were the victims of a targeted attack on email addresses in 2021, the news site said.

The Czech foreign policy chief told Politico that the revelation proved the assessment of his country’s Security Strategy, which says that the rising assertiveness of China is a systemic challenge that needs to be dealt with in coordination with trans-Atlantic allies.

The US, the UK and other countries released information about the online campaign by Chinese state-linked hackers this week.

Nine coalitions and 17 political parties have to date registered their electoral accounts for June’s European Parliament elections with the relevant official body in Czechia, the Czech News Agency reported on Friday. Parties must submit their lists of candidates for the elections by next Tuesday.

During the last European Parliament elections five year ago 40 different groups took part.

The Together coalition, which includes government parties the Civic Democrats, TOP 09 and the Christian Democrats, will run as an alliance again in the elections. The Pirates and the Mayors, who stood in the last general elections in a coalition, will stand separately this time. The main opposition party ANO will also campaign independently, while Freedom and Direct Democracy will run with Tricolour, another anti-EU party.