Jáchymov is a lonely mining town in the Ore Mountains which has played an important role in the history of modern man. The US dollar is the most widely used currency in the world. It is both the primary de facto global tender and the world’s unofficial gold standard. According to the International Monetary Fund, 62% of the planet’s financial reserves are held in US dollars – more than double the total foreign holdings of euros, yen and renminbi combined. Thirty-one nations have either adopted it as their official currency or named their money after it; more than 66 countries peg the value of their currencies to it. Yet, one place where the dollar is not accepted is in the tiny Czech town of Jáchymov – which is ironic, because it was here, tucked deep into the wooded folds of Bohemia’s Krušné hory mountains, where the dollar originated 500 years ago in January 1520. The Discovery of Silver and the Rise of Joachimsthal At the beginning of the 16th century, a rich silver deposit was found in the local valley, so in 1516 the owner of the Ostrov estate, Count Štěpán Šlik, decided to establish the town of Thaler. It...
Pizza prices across the Czech Republic rose by about 11.5 percent year on year, according to new data from Foodora. Despite the increase, the country remains among the cheapest markets in Europe where the delivery platform operates. The company’s Pizza Index, modeled loosely on global purchasing-power comparisons used in fast-food pricing, tracks average pizza costs in cities with the highest order volumes. The figures show clear regional differences inside the country. The lowest average price last year was recorded in Liberec at around 226 CZK. It was followed by České Budějovice with 233 CZK, Plzeň at 245 CZK, and Brno at roughly 251 CZK. The highest average price remained in Prague, where customers paid about 260 CZK per pizza. Across all countries covered by the index, prices were lower only in Hungary. The cheapest city overall was Szeged with an average price equivalent to about 207 CZK. At the opposite end stood Lillestrøm in Norway, where the converted price reached roughly 465 CZK. Higher ingredient costs, especially wheat, tomatoes and cheese, together with energy and operating expenses, have pushed prices up. Some major cities nevertheless recorded small declines, which the dataset links to stronger competition and more efficient production. Ordering...
The Czech Republic moved higher last year in Transparency International’s global Corruption Perceptions Index, ranking 39th worldwide. That marks an improvement from 46th place the previous year, although the country still remains below the European Union average score. Transparency International evaluated perceived corruption in the public sector across 182 countries and territories. A score of 100 signals a very clean public sector, while zero reflects severe corruption. The global average slipped to 42 points last year, the first decline in more than ten years, with most countries scoring under 50. Czechia recorded 59 points out of 100, three points more than a year earlier. Analysts from Transparency International Czech Republic link the still-below-average EU performance partly to what they describe as incomplete implementation of anti-corruption measures during the previous government. Across Central Europe, Slovakia moved in the opposite direction. Its score fell to 48 points, dropping the country from 59th place to 61st. Poland ranked 52nd with 53 points, while Hungary placed 84th with 40 points, among the weakest results in the European Union. The Baltic states — Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania — all scored higher than the Czech Republic despite joining the EU in the same 2004 enlargement round....
Archaeologists have made a remarkable discovery in the Bohemia region. A treasure trove of gold, jewellery, gems, silver coins, and amber has been found, with the site covering 62 acres in total. According to the latest reports, the area is said to have been a bustling trading hub during the La Tène period, which is when tribes started to spread throughout Europe. A Treasure Trove of Jewellery and Gems The discovery was made by the Museum of Eastern Bohemia, with Archaia Praha near Hradec Králové leading the excavation. When they began to uncover the ruins, they noticed significant finds, with over 13,000 bags of artifacts present. Within the bags were iron brooches, armlets, and metal bands. There was also high-quality jewellery made out of amber, a product highly prized during the era. As gems were also uncovered, archaeologists have said that the diversity of the find alone is exceptional, and that it gives a lot of insight into the craftsmanship, wealth, and cultural foundation of the tribe. The artefacts have since been cleaned, and if you want to see them in person, they are being catalogued at the Museum of Eastern Bohemia. There’s currently a small exhibition that showcases...
Several countries are tightening rules on children’s access to social media. Australia barred users under 16 late last year. France recently approved a law targeting children under 15. Similar steps are under discussion in Denmark, Slovenia, Greece, Turkey and Britain. The European Parliament has also urged stricter limits. UNICEF has warned that bans alone may not solve the problem and could create new risks if not combined with education and parental guidance. The Czech government may now follow this trend. Prime Minister Andrej Babiš said Sunday he supports restricting social media access for children under 15. He cited expert warnings about mental health risks and online harm. According to him, protecting minors must take priority. Industry and Trade Minister Karel Havlíček confirmed that discussions are underway. Experts, regulators and platform operators are involved. The government wants to avoid delays and could present a proposal later this year. Havlíček argues that excessive social media use is increasingly affecting children’s daily lives, including mental health and school performance. Not everyone is convinced. Alexandr Vondra, an MEP from the Civic Democrats, said the idea deserves debate but raised privacy concerns. Any restriction, he noted, must respect fundamental rights while remaining technically workable. Hours...
Newly published documents from the U.S. Department of Justice in the Jeffrey Epstein case contain references to the Czech Republic, raising questions for Prague politicians and authorities. Former Czech Foreign Minister and current MP Jan Lipavský (ODS) has publicly asked Prime Minister Andrej Babiš (ANO) whether Czech authorities are investigating potential connections and protecting possible victims. The DOJ’s massive document release, totaling more than three million pages, 180,000 photos, and 2,000 videos, details Epstein’s life and criminal activities. It includes emails, messages, calendar entries, statements, and other evidence collected during investigations into the convicted sex offender. According to Seznam Zprávy, iDNES.cz, and Novinky.cz, some materials indicate Epstein had direct contacts with Czech women and girls, and even stayed in Prague multiple times. Lipavský specifically asked Babiš whether the government is aware of Epstein’s visits, whether Czech victims might exist, and whether local security services will open an official investigation. He also questioned if the government plans to cooperate with international partners to ensure proper protection for potential victims. Epstein in Prague: Hotels, Photos, and Property Talks According to the documents, Epstein’s visits to Prague included stays at the Marriott Hotel and trips to notable sites such as the Old Jewish...
Problems with food safety were found in roughly one out of three KFC restaurants inspected across the Czech Republic last year, according to data released by the Czech Agricultural and Food Inspection Authority (CAFIA). Inspectors carried out 144 checks covering every branch of the chain, in some cases repeatedly. The seriousness of the findings differed from location to location, said CAFIA spokesman Pavel Kopřiva. Some violations involved direct risks to food quality. Inspectors reported moldy muffins offered for sale at a KFC outlet in Jenišov near Karlovy Vary. In Liberec, staff used meat past its expiration date during marinating. At a Prague-Dejvice branch, meat was thawed in standing water, a method that does not meet hygiene standards. Tests elsewhere revealed contaminated surfaces and ice samples exceeding permitted microorganism levels. Hygiene failures were the most frequent issue. Authorities recorded 38 cases linked specifically to food cleanliness rules. Inspectors also noted 13 breaches tied to food safety management procedures and one case involving incomplete meat traceability documentation. The inspection campaign followed reporting by independent Czech journalist Jan Tuna. His investigation alleged repeated improper meat handling, including altered shelf-life labels and preparation of dishes from meat described as spoiled or foul-smelling. The Czech...
Starting July 1, 2026, Czech residents will face an additional customs duty of €3 (around 73 CZK) on every parcel ordered from Asian online platforms, including Temu, Shein, AliExpress, and Trendyol. The European Union says the measure is designed to support European sellers and ensure imported goods meet ecological and safety standards that many Asian products currently violate. Brussels has long sought to curb the flow of ultra-cheap imports from Asia, especially ultra-fast fashion containing harmful chemicals. Previous measures, including the introduction of VAT on all parcels, did not reduce demand. The EU has now decided to remove all customs benefits for low-cost orders. How it worked before Until July 2021, most goods from China were exempt from VAT if valued under €22, while gifts between private individuals up to €45 were also exempt. Exceptions applied only to goods intended for commercial resale. Since July 2021, 21% VAT applies to all imported goods, regardless of price. In most cases, this tax is included in the purchase price on the seller’s website. However, certain shipments require an electronic customs declaration via the Czech customs portal, cPortál. This applies when a specific delivery service is chosen, the parcel lacks an IOSS number,...
Laboratory tests have found that apples grown and sold in the Czech Republic contain some of the highest pesticide levels in Europe, with residues that may pose a risk to infants. The findings come from a Europe-wide analysis coordinated by PAN Europe, a non-governmental organization focused on public health and environmental protection. One Golden Delicious apple purchased in a Czech supermarket contained seven different pesticide residues. According to the analysis, several were present at concentrations considered unsafe for baby food. Foods containing pesticide residues above 0.01 milligrams per kilogram are regarded as unsuitable for infants under European rules. In total, 59 apples from 13 European countries were tested. Only four samples, sourced from Denmark, Belgium, and Italy, met the criteria for use in infant food. All five apples from the Czech Republic failed. On average, Czech samples contained 3.8 different pesticide substances, around 20 percent more than the European average. Only one apple from Luxembourg recorded a similarly poor result. The testing focused on common varieties including Golden Delicious, Gala, Honeycrunch, and red apples. The samples were purchased by the Czech environmental group Rainbow Movement in three major retail chains: Tesco, Lidl, and Billa. Retailers were contacted for comment. Lidl...
Patients in the Czech Republic could soon receive prescription medicines directly at home instead of collecting them in person at a pharmacy. The Health Ministry is preparing a system that would allow mail-order delivery of prescription drugs, a model already used across much of Europe. Health Minister Adam Vojtěch said the change should be completed during the current election term. According to him, patients should have the right to choose whether to collect medicines in person or have them delivered. Similar systems already operate in Germany, Denmark, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom. The plan is not entirely new. Work on the project began under the previous leadership of the Health Ministry and was first introduced to professional groups last summer. The current administration is now moving the proposal forward. Vojtěch said the ministry is negotiating with pharmacists, distributors, and other stakeholders to define strict conditions. Safety remains the main issue. The system must preserve the role of pharmacists in dispensing prescription drugs and ensure proper handling during transport from pharmacy to patient. The minister has repeatedly backed the idea in public. At the Czech Pharma Summit in November, he said online prescription services were unavoidable. He compared resistance to...
Paying in Czech shops and restaurants is no longer straightforward. While many customers now rely entirely on cards or mobile payments, others still expect to pay with banknotes and coins. Tension arises when a business allows only one payment method. The question is simple: can a seller legally refuse cash? The debate has divided customers for years. For some, cashless payment is faster and easier. A phone or card replaces a wallet. Others see cash as a way to stay in control of spending and avoid digital tracking. The conflict becomes visible at the checkout, when a sign says “card only” or “cash not accepted.” The consumer organisation dTest has repeatedly warned that payment methods are not just a matter of preference. Some retailers refuse cards, citing fees and technical problems. Others go the opposite way and ban cash altogether. That is where legal obligations collide with business freedom. From a business perspective, the reasons for avoiding cash are practical. Cash handling takes time. Staff must count it, store it safely, and deal with mistakes when giving change. There is also the risk of theft. Large retailers face additional costs when transporting daily takings to the bank. Customers who insist...
The index, which analyzes 45 countries, is not based on rumors but on a complex metric of six key indicators: the average number of sexual partners, the age at which virginity is lost, STI rates, the legality of prostitution, and social acceptance of premarital sex. Czechia achieved a total GPI score of 305.50, with people reporting an average of 9.0 sexual partners over a lifetime, while the average age for first sexual experience is 17.2 years. In addition, a high percentage of the Czechs considers sex between consenting adults outside of marriage to be morally acceptable, reflecting a notable shift in the country’s traditionally conservative social fabric. Australia took the top spot with a score of 360.14 (averaging 13.3 partners), followed by Brazil in second place (340.66). Greece beat out other notably liberal nations such as Chile (4th), New Zealand (5th), and Germany (6th). Italy ranks at the 7th place, suggesting a Mediterranean trend of high sociosexuality. Sociologists suggest that Greece’s ranking may be attributed to its warm climate, a thriving tourism industry that encourages summer flings, and a modern culture that increasingly balances traditional Mediterranean family values with Western liberal attitudes toward dating. The report also references the “Sociosexual...
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