• 11/15/2024

    Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský is in London for the second of a two-day visit to the UK, where he will meet with the Deputy National Security Adviser Nick Catsaras in the morning, and in the afternoon will engage in a debate with students at University College London, and also present a Gratias Agit award to George Edward Scott, a historian and writer.

    Lipavský on Thursday met with his UK counterpart, David Lammy, to discuss bilateral relations, the conflict in Ukraine, and current foreign policy issues.

    Author: Danny Bate
  • 11/15/2024

    Czechia is failing to retain foreign workers, especially qualified ones, with a quarter of the foreign workforce leaving the country within two years of arrival, Minister of the Interior Vít Rakušan said on Thursday at the conference of the Central European branch of the Aspen Institute in Prague.

    The inability to retain foreign workers affects the country's economic competitiveness. Low wages and relatively high costs play a role in the decision to stay or leave. At the end of the first half of this year, the Labour Office registered over 827,600 foreign employees. The number has doubled in the past seven years, since June 2017. Nonetheless, Czechia is one of the countries with the lowest unemployment in the European Union.

    Author: Danny Bate
  • 11/14/2024

    Kateřina Emmons, the most successful Czech sport shooter, on Thursday received the Věra Čáslavská Award for extraordinary female achievement in sports and the Olympic Movement. The 40-year-old sportswoman, who holds a complete set of Olympic medals and has been world and European champion, received the trophy in a ceremony at the headquarters of the Czech Olympic Committee. She was accompanied by her American husband Matthew, also an Olympic shooting champion, and their four children.

    Named after the most decorated Czech gymnast in history, the Věra Čáslavská prize has been awarded to ten women since 2014. Emmons won her first gold medal in the women's 10 metre air rifle competition at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing.

    Author: Danny Bate
  • 11/14/2024

    The Bernard Family Brewery in Humpolec has won Brewery of the Year again, winning the award for the eighth time, as decided by the Association of Beer Friends. The brewery won in two categories based on beer type, with their light ‘desítka’ beer and their holiday lager. The association's competition has been held every year since 1990, and this year took place at the Zlatá kráva microbrewery in Nepomuk.

    Prague's Pivovar Strahov won microbrewery of the year, a title awarded by the association since 2006. The ‘flying brewery’ of the year (that is, a brewery in rented premises) is Pivovar Chroust in Prague. Václav Berka of Plzeňský Prazdroj is the competition’s brewer of the year.

    Author: Danny Bate
  • 11/14/2024

    Tomorrow's weather will be cloudy to overcast, with occasional drizzle at first, light rain in the east and some snowfall above 1000m. In the afternoon and evening, clouds will slowly disappear. Highest temperatures will be between 5 to 9°C.

    Author: Danny Bate
  • 11/14/2024

    A rufous rat-kangaroo joey has been born in the zoo in Olomouc, in the Svatý Kopeček district of the city, which has been breeding these small marsupials since 2022. According to the keepers, the joey is doing well and is most likely a female.

    The first two male rufous rat-kangaroos were brought to Olomouc Zoo in 2022. A female joined them a few months ago. Females are pregnant for 22 to 24 days, and give birth to one young, which she carries in her pouch for 16 weeks. The rufous rat-kangaroo is included in a separate group of four-toed marsupials. It lives in grasslands, scrublands and sparse forests in the northeast of Australia. Along with some other species, experts consider them to belong to a sister group to true kangaroos.

    Author: Danny Bate
  • 11/14/2024

    Minister of the Interior Vít Rakušan has announced that Czech firefighters and police officers are to receive a 2,500 crown increase in their salary, following a meeting between Minister Rakušan and representatives of police, firefighter and other security unions this morning to discuss wage increases and a reduction in administrative duties. The increase comprises the 1,500 crowns already promised for workers' pay grades, and an additional 1,000 crowns as a contribution to salary stabilisation.

    The unions were pressing for a 10% pay raise, which they claim Rakušan previously promised, and calling for relief from excessive bureaucratic burdens. The unions were threatening a protest on November 21st if their demands were not met with solid guarantees. Union leader Aleš Lehký emphasised that members need better compensation, noting that other government sectors received a 6.9% raise. Union representatives also highlighted a rising turnover among police, with many leaving due to low wages and increased bureaucratic demands.

    Author: Vít Pohanka
  • 11/14/2024

    Interior Minister Vít Rakušan (Mayors and Independents) met with President Petr Pavel at Prague Castle today to discuss, among other issues, the extensive investigation of the Vrbětice incident in 2014, when munitions depot explosions blamed on Russian agents caused two fatalities. The Ministry of the Interior previously confirmed its commitment to completing the investigation in collaboration with other ministries and the Zlín region. Following today's meeting, Minister Rakušan announced that a working group will be established that will deal with ensuring the security of the area in Vrbětice.

    Author: Vít Pohanka
  • 11/14/2024

    The Czech government has endorsed a proposed ban on the sale and serving of energy drinks to children under 15. The initiative aims to protect children from the adverse effects of stimulants commonly found in these drinks. Agriculture Minister Marek Výborný noted that technical and legislative adjustments are still needed, including a definition of the term "energy drink" in Czech law.

    The proposed restrictions would prohibit sales in healthcare facilities, schools, child welfare centres, and events for children under 15. Advertising targeting children and promoting excessive consumption or claims of social or health benefits would also be restricted. The Ministry of Health could establish guidelines on content and packaging. Industry groups oppose the measure, suggesting education over prohibition.

    Author: Vít Pohanka
  • 11/14/2024

    The Dvořák Trio, joined by guest violist Jiří Kabát, will inaugurate the 30th annual Bohuslav Martinů Days festival today at Prague's Liechtenstein Palace. The opening concert will present a selection of chamber works by composers Bedřich Smetana and Bohuslav Martinů, celebrating the Year of Czech Music. The festival will run until December 7th.

    Every year that ends in the number 4 is recognised as a Year of Czech Music, honouring anniversaries of notable Czech composers, such as Antonín Dvořák, Leoš Janáček, Bohuslav Martinů and Josef Suk.

    Author: Vít Pohanka

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