Conditions in the last two weeks of September are often among the best for engaging in a favourite Czech pastime – mushroom picking. In early autumn, temperatures cool so the morning dew doesn’t evaporate quickly, giving...
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Czech Republic ranks 26th in Social Progress Imperative quality of life index
The Czech Republic ranks 26th in the world in a quality of life index compiled by the non-profit group Social Progress Imperative along with partner organisations including the consultancy Deloitte. Of the new EU member...
Watchdog calls for EU probe over PM Babiš's alleged control of Agrofert
The Czech branch of anti-corruption watchdog Transparency International has sent a formal complaint to the European Commission alleging a conflict of interest between PM Andrej Babiš and his economic interests in relation to the Agrofe...
Daily news summary 19.9.2018
Budget 2019, old-age pensions, Prague astronomical clock nearly repaired
Prague Orloj to reopen soon
The Prague astronomical clock, commonly known as the ‘Orloj’, will reopen in the last week of September after 9 months of reconstruction. The repairs were the first complete dismantling of the clock since the end...
President Zeman willing to meet foreign minister candidate Tomáš Petříček
President Miloš Zeman has indicated that he plans to meet the Social Democrat’s new candidate for Foreign Minister, Tomáš Petříček, in the near future. Previously, he had rejected the party’s candidate Miroslav Poche, and the post...
Government approves 2019 budget with 40 bn crown deficit
The Czech government on Wednesday approved the draft budget for the year 2019. It counts on a deficit of 40 billion crowns (1.6 billion euros), the same amount as in the years 2020 and 2021,...
Social Democrats present new nominee for foreign minister
The Social Democrats, the junior party in the ruling coalition, have moved to resolve a months-long dispute with President Zeman over who should hold the foreign ministry portfolio. Party leader Jan Hamáček on Tuesday revealed the...
Putting a face to Queen Judita, Saint Zdislava, and the ‘Vampire of Čelákovice’
Her beauty and mind were said to have been beyond compare. But when the remains of Judita of Thuringia were first unearthed sixty years ago in the Benedictine monastery of Teplice, there was no way...
Average monthly old-age pension set to rise by 900 crowns as of January
The government has proposed increasing the average old-age pension by about 900 crowns as of January 2019. The fixed component of such pensions, which is the same for all and now stands at CZK 2,700,...