Czechia is facing a sharp rise in Legionnaires’ disease, with health officials warning that this year’s infection count will likely surpass last year’s record-breaking numbers. In just the first quarter of 2025, over 200 cases of legionellosis—an illness caused by the Legionella bacteria—have already been confirmed. That’s twice as many as in the same period last year. According to Novinky.cz, the country recorded 620 cases in 2024, the highest annual total to date. A year earlier, there were 342. The longer-term trend is clear: in 2019, there were 280 recorded cases; a decade ago, just 25. Legionnaires’ disease can be fatal. Last year, at least 50 people died from the illness, which mainly threatens seniors and individuals with weakened immune systems. “And their numbers are growing,” said epidemiologist Roman Chlíbek. “Consider how many patients now suffer from immune deficiencies or cancer.” The illness is caused by inhaling water droplets contaminated with Legionella bacteria. Symptoms often resemble the flu at first—fever, headache, muscle pain, and fatigue, followed by a worsening cough. If untreated, the bacteria can spread in the lungs and lead to severe pneumonia. Early antibiotic treatment is crucial. A Plumbing Problem—and More Experts believe poor maintenance of water systems...
The Czech government will introduce stricter rules for taxi drivers from outside the EU starting in July, aiming to tighten oversight of a rapidly growing sector dominated by foreign nationals. The change comes amid concerns over safety, regulatory gaps, and the sheer number of taxis on Prague’s roads. Last year, 5,405 new taxi driver licenses were issued in Prague alone—double the figure from 2020. In total, there are now an estimated 16,000 taxis operating in the capital, though city data suggest only about 3,500 would be sufficient to meet demand. The overcapacity, driven in part by the rise of ride-hailing platforms like Uber and Bolt, has triggered a government crackdown. From July 2025, taxi drivers will need a valid driver’s license from Czechia or another EU country to operate legally. Licenses will be granted only for the duration of a driver’s permitted stay, replacing the previous five-year validity. Police will also be empowered to carry out on-the-spot checks of drivers’ documentation and vehicle registration. Crackdown on Non-EU Drivers According to Vít Hofman, spokesperson for Prague City Hall, many applicants for taxi licenses are from Ukraine, Uzbekistan, and Nigeria. “The number of foreign drivers has risen sharply, particularly with the expansion...
For the first time in more than 60 years, oil from Russia will no longer flow into the Czech Republic. Instead, the country has officially completed its transition to the Western TAL oil pipeline, making it fully independent from Russian crude. The first increased delivery of non-Russian oil has successfully arrived from a tank farm in Trieste, Italy, to the Central Oil Tank Farm in Nelahozeves, where it will continue on to the Litvínov refinery. The announcement was made Thursday by Prime Minister Petr Fiala, Finance Minister Zbyněk Stanjura, and Jaroslav Pantůček, General Director of MERO ČR, the state-owned company managing oil transit infrastructure. “We’ve taken another important step towards energy independence,” said Prime Minister Fiala during a press conference in Nelahozeves. Thanks to the expanded pipeline, the Czech Republic can now receive up to eight million tons of oil per year through Western routes—enough to meet the full demand of local refineries. “This is the first time we’re using the increased capacity of the TAL pipeline under live operations,” said Pantůček. “The oil arrived yesterday from Trieste, and this afternoon, MERO ČR will begin transporting it to its owner, Orlen Unipetrol, for processing in Litvínov.” The move follows a...
Wednesday, April 16, marks the first official summer day of the year in the Czech Republic, defined by temperatures exceeding 25°C. The Czech Hydrometeorological Institute (ČHMÚ) confirmed the seasonal milestone and noted that temperatures are expected to continue rising throughout the afternoon. Measurements from meteorological stations in the Moravian-Silesian, South Moravian, and Pilsen regions confirmed the temperature threshold had been reached. Compared to last year, summer arrived later. In 2023, the first summer day fell on April 1, followed by the first tropical day—a day with temperatures above 30°C—on April 7. According to climatologist Pavel Zahradníček from the Institute for Global Change Research (CzechGlobe), tropical days in April are relatively rare. “On average, April sees a tropical day every two years, although lower elevations experience them more frequently,” he explained. More Summer Days Bring Environmental Risks While warmer days might seem like a welcome change, they come with serious downsides. “Higher temperatures lead to faster soil drying, lower milk yields in cattle, and greater wildfire risk, especially when combined with strong winds and dry soil conditions,” said Zahradníček. The climatologist noted that the fire-risk period has increased by 20 to 25 days annually, starting earlier in the year than before....
Moravská Třebová has won the title of Historic City of the Year 2024, a reward for using money from the Ministry of Culture’s programme for the restoration of monuments. The award, which comes with a one-million-crown cheque, honors those towns and cities that have excelled in preserving and renewing their cultural and architectural heritage. The “Historic Town of the Year” competition is organized annually by the Association of Historic Settlements in Bohemia, Moravia, and Silesia along with the Ministry of Regional Development. Moravska Trebova, in the Svitavy district, is a town of almost 10,000 inhabitants. The town has made its Renaissance town hall accessible and created a new information system. At the same time, it acquired the Renaissance church from the local parish, which it is trying to repair and make accessible. The Ministry for Regional Development’s award, which carries a prize of CZK 100,000, went to Nove Mesto nad Metuji in the Hradec Kralove Region and Prague 1 for its outstanding implementation of the programme for the rehabilitation of heritage reserves. A special award was given to Horni Slavkov in the Karlovy Vary Region for the restoration of St. George’s Church, and the town of Lipnik nad Becvou in...
At first glance, it sounds like progress paused. This year’s Equal Pay Day in the Czech Republic fell on March 25, marking the 65th day into the year — a symbolic reminder of how much longer women must work to earn what men made in 2024 alone. That figure translates into an 18% gender pay gap, one of the widest in the European Union. The issue took center stage last month at the Equal Pay Day 2025 Conference in Prague, hosted by Business & Professional Women CR (BPWCR), an organization that has long been at the forefront of gender equality advocacy. The event gathered corporate leaders, policymakers, and researchers to confront a familiar but stubborn reality: Czech women continue to earn less — even when qualifications and roles are the same. The next event will be on 26. and 27. March, 2026. Here is the link to buy tickets. A Reversal in Progress The pay gap had narrowed in previous years, dipping to 15% in 2021, thanks in part to government interventions like minimum wage hikes and targeted raises in female-dominated fields such as education and healthcare. But those improvements, experts warn, were short-lived — temporary fixes rather than structural...
The Czech Republic is set to experience multiple waves of Saharan dust, which will remain suspended in the atmosphere until Easter. Meteorologists warn that this dust intrusion could worsen air quality, trigger respiratory problems, and slightly reduce the expected warm temperatures across the country. The dust, carried from the Sahara Desert, can cause a visible haze, reduce sky clarity, and lead to so-called “blood rain” — a phenomenon where rainfall carries dust particles, leaving dirty stains on cars, windows, and other surfaces. At higher concentrations, these fine particles may settle on the ground and, when combined with pollen, significantly worsen symptoms for people with asthma or allergies. According to meteorologists at Geosphere Austria, the first major dust wave is expected to hit on Tuesday, followed by another on Thursday. The deteriorated air conditions are likely to continue throughout the Easter holidays. In addition to the health concerns, sunlight will be partly blocked, potentially reducing maximum daytime temperatures by a few degrees. This atmospheric event is part of a recurring natural phenomenon that occurs during storms or low-pressure systems over North Africa. Every year, the NASA Earth Observatory reports that winds blow up to 200 million tons of dust from the...
With birth rates falling faster than expected and an ageing population on the rise, Czechia faces urgent decisions to secure the future of its economy and social welfare system. Czechia is experiencing a significant and sustained decline in its birth rate, raising concerns about long-term impacts on the country’s economy, social services, and population structure. After a modest increase in births during 2021, the following year saw a notable drop of around 12,000 births, pushing the total below the 100,000 mark. The average number of children per woman fell to 1.66, erasing several years of gradual improvement. As reported by Echo24, the trend continued into 2023, with fewer than 92,000 births recorded — a decline of 8 percent from the previous year. Preliminary data for 2024 suggests the fertility rate has fallen further to around 1.37 children per woman. These figures not only reflect a persistent decline but also surpass even the most cautious forecasts. Projections that anticipated such numbers for the 2030s have arrived much earlier than expected. If the pattern holds, the number of annual births could fall to approximately 76,000 by the end of the decade. This demographic shift is being experienced in multiple European nations, perhaps most...
The Czech national pavilion at Expo 2025 in Osaka, Japan, has officially opened to the public, showcasing a bold fusion of architecture, glassmaking tradition, and contemporary Czech art. Designed by Apropos Architects, a Prague-based studio, the four-story structure will welcome visitors on the artificial island of Yumeshima until October 13. The opening ceremony was attended by Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský, Czech Ambassador to Japan Martin Klučar, and Expo Commissioner General Ondřej Soška. Located along the coastal promenade, the Czech pavilion stands out with its striking spiral walkway, which wraps around the building and leads visitors to the rooftop. The structure is built primarily from wood and glass, a deliberate reference to the Czech Republic’s centuries-old glassmaking heritage. The exterior spiral, stretching 260 meters, is also glass-covered, transforming the pavilion into a dynamic visual space that shifts with the natural light. Inside, visitors are greeted by installations from leading Czech artists, including Rony Plesl, Jakub Matuška, and multimedia collective Lunchmeat Studio. At the heart of the pavilion is an auditorium set to host cultural performances, discussions, and lectures throughout the exhibition. A restaurant section will serve traditional Czech cuisine along with Pilsner beer, further immersing guests in the country’s cultural offerings....
Warm southern air will bring a taste of summer to Czechia this week, with temperatures expected to reach 25°C on Wednesday and Thursday. According to the Czech Hydrometeorological Institute (ČHMÚ), this brief warm spell will be followed by milder but still pleasant conditions over the Easter weekend. The start of the week will remain stable, though occasional showers are expected, especially in northwest Bohemia. On Monday, skies will be partly cloudy with sporadic rainfall. Overnight lows will fall to between 6°C and 11°C, while daytime highs will stay within 17°C to 22°C. A light variable wind will shift to a moderate southeasterly in the afternoon, particularly in Moravia. Tuesday will bring similar conditions. Expect cloudy skies with scattered showers, and a possibility of thunderstorms, particularly in Bohemia. Rain should ease by the evening, with clearing skies from the west. Daytime highs will remain in the 18°C to 22°C range in the west, but eastern regions may be slightly cooler, with highs between 14°C and 18°C. On Wednesday, temperatures could rise to 25°C, creating ideal conditions for outdoor plans. The day will start partly cloudy, especially in Moravia and Silesia, and wind speeds will remain moderate. Overnight, temperatures will drop to...
As many as 260,000 refugees from Ukraine could remain in the Czech Republic permanently within the next decade, according to a new study by Boston Consulting Group (BCG) and the Aspen Institute Central Europe. If that estimate proves accurate, the total number of foreigners in the country could reach 1.36 million by 2035. As of the end of March, figures from the Ministry of the Interior showed that 364,600 people were living in Czechia under temporary protection. Another 708,700 foreign nationals held various types of residence permits—bringing the total to around 1.07 million. “We currently estimate that around 70% of Ukrainian refugees will remain in the Czech Republic after 2035,” the study’s authors wrote. However, they noted that much depends on how the war in Ukraine develops in the coming years. The study highlights a generally positive effect on the Czech labor market, which has long suffered from worker shortages. “The arrival of labor helped ease shortages in sectors like construction, manufacturing, and services, while also generating new consumer demand that supported parts of the economy,” the study notes. But integration is not without challenges. The report flags several issues: language barriers, the limited recognition of qualifications, and increased pressure on the healthcare...
The Czech Hydrometeorological Institute has released its forecast for the upcoming weekend, and while the temperatures will feel like spring, the skies might not fully cooperate. On Friday, April 11, expect partly cloudy skies across much of the country, with occasional local rain showers. Daytime temperatures will range between 13 and 17°C. Saturday will bring a similar pattern. Most regions will see intermittent clouds and scattered short-term rain, but the temperatures will climb a bit higher, reaching 16 to 20°C during the day. Sunday’s forecast follows the same trend: variable cloudiness with local precipitation, particularly in western regions. Thermometers could rise to 21°C, bringing the warmest day of the weekend. Looking ahead to next week, the weather pattern will remain largely unchanged, but a slight increase in warmth is on the horizon. From Monday to Thursday (April 14–17), skies will stay mostly cloudy or overcast, with occasional showers. However, temperatures will gradually rise, reaching 17 to 22°C—and in some parts of Moravia, even up to 25°C. While it may not be a fully sunny spring weekend, the mild temperatures will offer a welcome break from colder weather. Just don’t forget to pack a light raincoat or umbrella before heading outdoors....
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