• 10/04/2023

    Renáta Kellnerová is still the richest person in Czechia with assets of CZK 378 billion, according to the newly published Forbes Rich List. She is the widow of Czech billionaire entrepreneur Petr Kellner, the founder and majority shareholder of the PPF Group, who died in a helicopter accident in Alaska in 2021.

    Second on the list is Daniel Křetínský, CEO and majority owner of the largest energy group in Central Europe, EPH, with CZK 210.9 billion. Former prime minister Andrej Babiš is fifth on the list with assets of CZK 170 billion.

    Author: Anna Fodor
  • 10/04/2023

    Diplomat Martin Tomčo will be the new Czech ambassador to China, news site Seznam Zprávy reported on Wednesday. He is replacing Vladimír Tomšík, who finished his post in Beijing at the end of September.

    Mr. Tomčo was the Czech ambassador to Japan up until this year and he previously held the same position in North Korea.

    Author: Anna Fodor
  • 10/04/2023

    Thursday is expected to be cloudy but dry, with daytime temperatures between 12 and 18 degrees Celsius.

    Author: Anna Fodor
  • 10/04/2023

    The European elections taking place next year will be both an opportunity and a test for democracy, President Petr Pavel said in his speech at the plenary session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg on Wednesday. He emphasised that the key to peace and prosperity in Europe is its unity and diversity. He also strongly condemned Russia's war in Ukraine and appealed to politicians to communicate with their citizens and not give space to misinformation.

    In his speech, he also made several references to the last president of Czechoslovakia and the first president of the Czech Republic, Václav Havel, who would have celebrated his 87th birthday on October 5.

    Author: Anna Fodor
  • 10/04/2023

    A company based in Turnov twice tried to export parts that can be used in the production of nuclear weapons to Pakistan without a valid permit, news site Deník N reported on Wednesday. After the first attempt, the authorities simply warned the company that exporting such material from the European Union without a permit is not allowed. However, after customs officials discovered the second attempt, the company, NRB - New Rock Bits, and its executive, a woman of Russian origin, now stand accused of deliberately trying to export prohibited goods.

    Author: Anna Fodor
  • 10/04/2023

    The Environment Ministry plans to increase the share of energy in Czechia that is made from renewable sources to 30 percent by 2030, according to a national climate-energy plan which the government should vote on next week. If the plan passes the vote, it will be sent to the European Commission for approval.

    Environment Minister Petr Hladík told Czech Radio that his ministry would like to quintuple the current share of solar and wind energy by 2030, which he described as "an ambitious but realistic plan".

    Author: Anna Fodor
  • 10/04/2023

    The 25th edition of Designblok, Czechia’s biggest event in the field, got underway in Prague on Wednesday. The showcase of Czech and international design is taking place at the Trade Fair Palace, the Museum of Decorative Arts and Prague Castle, as well as in numerous shops and showrooms in the city.

    The unifying theme this year is travel. Most of Designblok runs until Sunday, with two exhibitions at Prague Castle set to continue for another week.

    Author: Ian Willoughby
  • 10/04/2023

    Around 30 people took part in a march on Tuesday evening calling for the humanisation of the “magistrála” main road that cuts through central Prague. The event was organised by the environmental protest group Last Generation, which is demanding a 30km an hour speed limit in the Czech capital.

    The event passed off peacefully but some motorists honked and swore at participants, who occupied one lane of the magistrála. A counter-demonstration included the sign Stop Eco-Terrorism”.

    Author: Ian Willoughby
  • 10/03/2023

    The European Union should expand for the sake of its security, Czech President Petr Pavel said on Tuesday in a speech at the opening of the new academic year at the College of Europe in Bruges, Belgium. He also said Ukraine and the countries of the Western Balkans must not be left to “geopolitical manipulation”.

    The patron of the class at the prestigious academic institution is the late former US Secretary of State and Czech-born Madeleine Albright, whom Mr. Pavel praised as a visionary, given her support for the eastward expansion of the EU and NATO. He also quoted former Czech President Václav Havel and expressed his intention to hold a conference in Prague on the resilience of democracies.

    Author: Ian Willoughby
  • 10/03/2023

    Czechia should have similar diplomatic representation in Russia to its allies, Prime Minister Petr Fiala said on Tuesday, in response to a query from the Czech News Agency on the issue of sending a new ambassador to Moscow. The foreign minister, Jan Lipavský, has said the Czechs should have an ambassador in Russia, but President Petr Pavel says he is unable to imagine renewing the post at present.

    The ambassador to Russia is officially Vítězslav Pivoňka, though he has been in Czechia for several months. Diplomat Jiří Čistecký is serving as deputy ambassador in Moscow.

    The UK and Germany have recently sent new ambassadors to Russia, despite that country’s war on Ukraine.

    Author: Ian Willoughby

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