A Czech couple’s attempt to bring home comforts on vacation backfired—literally—when their suitcase full of beer exploded during airport handling in Egypt. Planning ahead for a trip can be a good idea—until it gets soaked in… lager. A married couple from the Czech Republic packed over 20 cans of Kozel beer into their suitcase before flying to Egypt. According to a report from iDNES.cz, the pair weren’t fans of the local alcohol options and decided to take matters into their own hands. But their plan to rely on familiar Czech brews quickly turned into a logistical disaster. “The couple had more than twenty cans of Kozel in their luggage, but they didn’t package them properly. During baggage handling at the airport, several cans exploded,” said a local delegate from the travel agency. “The beer smell spread through the bus and even reached the hotel.” The mishap led to beer-soaked clothing, a strong odor throughout their luggage, and a lesson in the risks of traveling with alcohol. While beer is readily available at many all-inclusive resorts in Egypt, tourists often complain it is served in small plastic cups and frequently not chilled. As a result, some travelers opt to bring their...
Alcohol consumption in the Czech Republic is once again under debate, as doctors, public health experts, and policymakers call for stricter rules on sales, advertising, and availability. Emerging data and mounting pressure are forcing politicians to consider legislative changes—some of which now appear in party platforms ahead of the next elections. According to statistics cited in Seznam Zprávy, the average Czech drinks over 160 liters of alcoholic beverages annually, equal to more than 9 liters of pure alcohol per person. Beer remains the dominant drink (46%), followed by spirits (28%) and wine (25%). But the figures that worry experts most involve teenagers. Nearly three-quarters of Czech 15-year-olds have already tried alcohol. Despite existing laws prohibiting sales to minors, availability remains high, and enforcement is patchy at best. Random police checks are carried out, but their effectiveness is limited. Price is also a factor—alcohol remains affordable even for teenagers, and the cultural norm treats drinking as a casual part of adolescence. “There is no such thing as a safe dose of alcohol,” said Dr. Tomáš Šebek, founder of the Minister of Health think tank. “People associate drinking with liver damage or pregnancy complications, but they overlook increased risks of cardiovascular disease...
The Czech Senate is expected to approve sweeping changes to the country’s migration and asylum laws during its session today. The legislation was submitted by the ruling coalition and is framed as a response to long-standing concerns about system abuse and capacity constraints. At the heart of the proposal is a set of measures that would give authorities greater control over the movement, identification, and accommodation of migrants and asylum seekers. The Ministry of the Interior says the changes are necessary to streamline the process for granting international protection, reduce opportunities for misuse, and strengthen public order and security. One of the most controversial aspects of the draft law is the use of mobile phone data by police and migration officers to verify the identity of migrants. The proposal would also introduce mandatory health screenings for epidemiological purposes and expand the powers of authorities to determine where asylum seekers are required to live—potentially obliging them to stay in state-run facilities. Another provision would allow the rejection of applications for temporary protection from Ukrainian nationals who have already been granted similar status in other EU countries. Repeat Offenders Face Removal Foreign nationals who commit three administrative offences in a single year—ranging...
Tourism from China to the Czech Republic is rising sharply again, with nearly 30,000 Chinese visitors arriving in the first quarter of 2025 — a 39% increase compared to the same period last year. While the figures are still below pre-pandemic levels (nearly 91,000 in Q1 2019), the recovery is evident, especially in Prague, where the share of Asian travelers continues to grow, according to the Czech Statistical Office. One surprising catalyst for the renewed interest? A Chinese reality show filmed in Czechia. The seventh season of Divas Hit the Road, one of China’s most popular TV programs, brought a crew of celebrities to the country in late 2024. Filmed in iconic locations such as Prague Castle, Old Town Square, and Český Krumlov, the program puts Czech landmarks and everyday culture in front of millions of viewers in China. The show’s cast includes major stars like singer Na Ying and actors Chen Shu, Gong Jun, and Li Qin, who explored the Czech capital’s historical sights and cultural heritage in a format combining travel and entertainment. Its domestic impact is enormous — past seasons have reached up to 860 million viewers and routinely top China’s streaming and social media charts, including...
The Czech initiative “A Gift for Putin” has raised CZK 60 million (over EUR 2.4 million) in public donations to purchase six howitzers for the Ukrainian army. The funds will be used to purchase six new D-30 howitzers. As a symbolic tribute to heroes of Czechoslovak history, each howitzer will be named after a World War II figure. According to the organizers, all six howitzers are immediately available and will be delivered to the front lines following administrative clearance and in coordination with Ukrainian diplomatic representatives. Ondracek said one of the howitzers has been named “Josef,” in honor of Josef Mašín, a member of the resistance group Three Kings. Others are named after Jan Kubiš and Jozef Gabčík, who carried out the assassination of Reinhard Heydrich, and Karel Kuttelwascher, a famed Czech pilot who served in the Royal Air Force during WWII. The D-30 (2A18), originally developed in the Soviet Union during the 1960s, has a firing range of up to 15.4 km, extendable to 21.9 km with rocket-assisted projectiles, and a rate of fire of up to 12 rounds per minute. The fundraising campaign for the howitzers began in November 2024. At the same time, the initiative launched another campaign to raise CZK 12.5 million for 500 drones equipped with munitions and...
After days of intense heat, the Czech Republic is set for a weather shift. Starting Thursday, a cold front will sweep across the country, sending temperatures down by as much as 15 degrees Celsius, according to the Czech Hydrometeorological Institute (ČHMÚ). The beginning of the week will still feel like midsummer. Monday will also be hot, with highs between 26°C and 31°C, but the atmosphere will become unstable, especially later in the day. Thunderstorms are likely to develop during the afternoon and evening hours. A noticeable change will arrive on Tuesday, when temperatures will fall to between 21°C and 26°C. The skies will remain cloudy, and intermittent rain showers and light winds are expected throughout the day. By Wednesday, the skies should clear again, bringing a brief return to sunny and pleasant conditions. Daytime highs will reach up to 27°C, and in southern Moravia, even 29°C. But the warm weather won’t last. From Thursday, the country will enter a cooler, wetter pattern. Temperatures will drop to 18°C to 23°C, and much of the country will see clouds and occasional rain showers. On Friday, widespread rain is expected and daytime temperatures will hover around 18°C. The weekend will continue in a...
President Petr Pavel has signed a bill on July 17th that decriminalizes recreational cannabis for personal use and home cultivation, but not its sale. Under the new regulations, adults over the age of 21 can legally grow up to three cannabis plants per person and possess up to 100 grams of cannabis flower, with a public possession limit of 25 grams. Cannabis-related offenses involving amounts exceeding the legal limits will be addressed in a separate section of the Criminal Code. Possession of cannabis on behalf of another person will also no longer be considered a criminal offense. The legislation will take effect next year. However, the sale of cannabis products will remain prohibited. The Czech Republic has also legalized the medical use of psilocybin, the psychoactive compound found in magic mushrooms, for the treatment of conditions such as depression. It is among the first European countries to do so. The decriminalization of use and home cultivation of recreational cannabis is part of a wider criminal code reform aimed at modernizing the justice system, easing prison overcrowding, and cutting public spending on minor offenses. The Czech Republic has had a tolerant approach to recreational cannabis, decriminalizing small amounts since 2010. The...
The Czech Republic has signed a memorandum of understanding with the United Kingdom on cooperation in nuclear energy, Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala said yesterday after a meeting with his British counterpart Keir Starmer in London. He said the British firm Rolls-Royce was considering building a factory for small modular reactors in the Czech Republic. Britain last month pledged 2.5 billion pounds to build SMRs, which it hopes can help increase energy security and help the country meet its climate targets while also creating export opportunities and jobs. SMRs can be made in factories, with parts small enough to be transported on trucks and barges and assembled more quickly and cheaply than large-scale nuclear plants. “By working with our Czech partners on small modular reactors, we’re backing British engineering, strengthening our industrial base, and putting the UK in a leading position to export the technologies of the future,” UK Prime Minister Kier Starmer said in a statement from Britain’s Department for Energy Security and Net Zero that also quoted his Czech counterpart. “We are creating conditions for small modular reactors to be built in the Czech Republic. I think it would be a very suitable complement to the construction of...
Between January and June 2025, a total of 45,959 people registered a trade license in Czechia. The number of registered entrepreneurs (professionals and small business owners) in the country reached 2,007,596, the highest since 2022. The figures were released by Dun & Bradstreet, a firm that tracks business activity across Europe. Foreign nationals continue to drive part of this growth. According to the data, Ukrainian citizens made up 14% of new registrations, while Slovaks accounted for 3%. “In 2023, 80,787 people started businesses. That figure rose to 91,494 in 2024 — the highest in over a decade. This year’s numbers show that interest in entrepreneurship remains high,” said Kateřina Klosová, Chair of the Board at Dun & Bradstreet Czech Republic. Klosová noted that the increase in self-employed activity is economically positive, especially in sectors where demand is tied to local services. Many new trades respond directly to gaps in specific areas, helping improve both access and quality. The largest share of new entrepreneurs — more than a third — registered under the general category of “Production, trade, and services not listed in Annexes 1–3 of the Trade Licensing Act.” These are typically low-barrier fields such as IT freelancing, personal services,...
After a hot start to the week, Czechia is bracing for a shift in weather. A cold front will sweep across the country, bringing showers, thunderstorms, and a drop in temperatures — especially by Thursday, when highs may not exceed 17 °C in some regions. The Czech Hydrometeorological Institute (ČHMÚ) has issued a weather warning for high temperatures in southeastern Moravia, where the mercury is expected to climb to 32 °C on Monday afternoon. Elsewhere, highs will range from 26 to 30 °C, but unstable air will trigger afternoon storms, particularly in southwestern and western Bohemia. The cooling trend will continue into Tuesday, with skies remaining mostly cloudy to overcast. Occasional showers and thunderstorms are expected, especially later in the day. While the eastern and central regions may still reach 25 to 30 °C, western and northwestern areas will struggle to exceed 22 °C. Wednesday will bring widespread cloud cover, with more showers and isolated thunderstorms across most of Czechia. Temperatures will range from 20 to 25 °C, indicating a steady decline as the cold front tightens its grip. By Thursday, the weather will reach its coldest point of the week. Highs will drop to 17 to 22 °C, with...
New data from Eurostat reveals that the average Czech employee works 37.8 hours per week — nearly four hours more than workers in Germany or Austria. Over the course of a year, that adds up to 200 extra hours, or five additional full working weeks. Yet despite the longer hours, Czech wages remain far lower than those in neighboring countries. “Over a lifetime, a Czech worker puts in several more years of labor compared to someone in Germany,” said Jiří Vaňásek, Vice-Chair of the Czech-Moravian Confederation of Trade Unions. In fact, when those weekly differences are accumulated across a working life, the gap becomes hard to ignore: Czechs can expect to work around four years longer than Germans — and some union estimates suggest the gap may be even wider due to older baseline data and changing trends in working hours. Long Hours, Low Wages The average Czech working life spans about 38 years, though this can vary based on education. And the compensation doesn’t match the time invested. A 2024 report from Mazars shows the average private-sector monthly wage in the Czech Republic was CZK 46,557, compared to CZK 116,682 in Germany and CZK 126,125 in Austria (converted from...
A Czech tourist died on Friday afternoon in the Italian Dolomites after falling from a mountain trail, Italian news agency ANSA and public broadcaster RAI reported. The man had reportedly strayed from his group during a hike and lost his footing. The accident occurred around 2:00 p.m. in the Val di Fassa area of the Trentino region, a popular destination for mountain hiking and climbing. The man, who was about 50 years old, had been hiking with others toward Passo San Nicolò, a mountain pass located at roughly 2,400 meters above sea level. According to early reports, the man accidentally left the designated trail, lost his balance, and fell onto rocks below. Members of the hiking group immediately alerted mountain rescue services, and a rescue helicopter was dispatched to the scene. However, despite swift intervention, the man succumbed to his injuries at the site. His body was later transported down to the valley by emergency crews. The Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs has not yet confirmed the details, but Czech media report that officials are currently reviewing the case. Would you like us to write about your business? Find out more
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