• Bob Dylan kicks off European tour with first of three concerts in Prague
    10/04/2024

    American singer-songwriter Bob Dylan will perform the first of three concerts at Prague's O2 universum tonight as part of his *Rough & Rowdy Ways* tour, named after his 2020 album. The following concerts will take place on Saturday and Sunday. The performances will be unique, with a ban on mobile phones to prevent audio and video recording. 83-year-old Dylan will start his European tour in Prague before heading to Germany, France, Luxembourg, and the UK. This marks his return to Prague five years after his last performance in the city.
    Author: Vít Pohanka

  • PM Fiala to meet candidate for regional development minister
    10/04/2024

    Prime Minister Petr Fiala (Civic Democratic Party) will meet on Friday with the Mayors and Independents Party candidate for Minister for Regional Development, Petr Kulhánek. Following the meeting, Fiala may submit a proposal to President Petr Pavel to appoint Kulhánek as Minister for Regional Development and Lukáš Vlček as Minister of Industry. Vlček is set to replace Jozef Síkela, who is moving to the European Commission. The president is expected to meet both candidates on Monday and appoint them on Tuesday. With the general elections taking place next year, this government reshuffle gained importance and media attention in the past few weeks.
    Author: Vít Pohanka

  • MPs expected to conclude second round of debate on controversial pension reform
    10/04/2024

    The Chamber of Deputies is expected to finish the second round of discussions on the controversial government pension reform on Friday, with around 30 proposed amendments likely to be introduced by both the opposition and coalition members. The extraordinary session, initiated by the coalition, also includes a bill to increase radio and TV license fees and expand the range of payers. However, this bill is unlikely to be addressed during this session. The pension debate has so far lasted over 22 hours, with the opposition sharply criticizing plans to raise the retirement age above the current 65 years and reduce new pension calculations, both aimed at reducing the pension system’s deficit.
    Author: Vít Pohanka

  • Mayors and Independents nominate Karlovy Vary governor as Minister for Regional Development
    10/03/2024

    The leadership of the Mayors and Independents Party has nominated outgoing Karlovy Vary Region governor Petr Kulhánek to head the Ministry for Regional Development. This decision was made during a meeting in the Chamber of Deputies. The ministerial post became vacant after Ivan Bartoš (Pirates) was dismissed on September 30 due to issues with the digitalization of construction processes, following a proposal by Prime Minister Petr Fiala (Civic Democratic Party). The Pirates, viewing Bartoš's dismissal as a breach of the coalition agreement, left the government, and the ministry was allocated to Mayors and Independents Party. Kulhánek is set to meet with Prime Minister Fiala on Friday and with President Petr Pavel on Monday, along with Lukáš Vlček, the same party's nominee for the Ministry of Industry and Trade. Both are expected to be appointed by the president on Tuesday morning.
    Author: Vít Pohanka

  • Public sector wages to rise by 1,400 CZK, government reaches deal with unions
    10/03/2024

    The Czech government and unions have agreed to a 1,400 CZK wage increase for public sector employees starting next year. Prime Minister Petr Fiala (Civic Democratic Party) and Czech-Moravian Confederation of Trade Unions leader Josef Středula announced the agreement, calling it a fair compromise. As a result, the unions will cancel their strike alert. The deal affects pay groups one to four, while further discussions will be held regarding group five, which includes education workers. The agreement does not impact the planned strike by judicial sector unions.
    Author: Vít Pohanka

  • EC urges Czech Republic to end discrimination against Roma children
    10/03/2024

    The European Commission has called on the Czech Republic to stop discriminating against Roma children. According to the Commission, the country is not complying with EU laws on combating racial and ethnic discrimination, prompting the launch of an infringement procedure against Prague. The issue revolves around the segregation of Roma children in schools, a problem the Commission says Czech authorities are not addressing effectively. Despite past warnings, the Czech Republic has two months to respond and resolve the shortcomings. Infringement proceedings involve two stages: a formal notice, followed by potential referral to the European Court of Justice if the issues are not resolved.
    Author: Vít Pohanka

  • Weather
    10/03/2024

    The weather will be cloudy to overcast, with rain or showers initially in some areas and later across most of the country. High temperatures from 8 to 12°C.
    Author: Vít Pohanka

  • Lawmakers continue pension reform debate into the night, deal not on horizon
    10/03/2024

    The Czech Chamber of Deputies continue discussing the government’s pension reform into the night on Thursday, after the coalition extended the parliamentary session but no deal seems to be emerging. This follows Wednesday’s proceedings, which ended at 10 p.m. based on a club agreement. Coalition leaders, like Christian Democrat Aleš Dufek, argue that the extended session will ensure the debate gets the necessary attention. Opposition MPs have dominated the early hours of Thursday's debate with brief speeches, focusing on generational care and maintaining dignified pensions. Labor Minister Marian Jurečka highlighted recent increases in care allowances and defended means-tested birth grants over universal ones.
    Author: Vít Pohanka

  • President Pavel nominates Judge Řepková to the Constitutional Court
    10/03/2024

    President Petr Pavel has nominated Dita Řepková from the Regional Court in Brno as a new judge of the Constitutional Court, to replace David Uhlíř, whose term ends in December. This marks Pavel’s 11th nomination to the 15-member court, meaning the court has been two-thirds renewed since he took office. Řepková previously served as an assistant to former Constitutional Court judge Eliška Wagnerová and has worked at the Brno court since 2008. Pavel is expected to nominate two more judges during his term, with Jaromír Jirsa’s term ending in October 2025 and Josef Fiala’s in December 2025.
    Author: Vít Pohanka

  • Palacky University scientists develop new-generation antibiotics
    10/03/2024

    Scientists from Palacky University in Olomouc have created new-generation antibiotics that are highly effective against a broad range of bacteria and can prevent the development of bacterial resistance. The team transformed manganese, an essential trace element, into a powerful antibiotic by incorporating it into chemically modified graphene. Tests on animal models showed great potential, particularly for local therapies, such as wound healing. The research was conducted by experts from Palacký University, VSB-Technical University of Ostrava, and Chinese collaborators. A European patent has been filed for the new material.
    Author: Vít Pohanka

Pages