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...
Restaurants across the Czech Republic are facing a steady drop in in-house customers, particularly during the working week. According to industry data and business owners, many establishments now rely on just three days to stay afloat. Thursday, Friday, and Saturday have become the only profitable days for a growing number of restaurants. From Sunday through Wednesday, most operators either break even or lose money. Some have already adjusted their opening hours. Others have closed entirely on weekdays. “Our restaurant doesn’t open from Monday to Wednesday anymore,” said Lumír Sendrej, a restaurant owner. “If we did, we would be operating at a loss.” Industry figures confirm the trend. Over the past three years, revenues in Czech restaurants have dropped by around 10 percent. Weekday foot traffic alone fell by roughly 8 percent compared to last year. Lunch service has been hit hardest. “Lunch is basically gone,” said Luboš Kastnér, a board member of the Association of Small and Medium-Sized Entrepreneurs. “It’s no longer a fight. It’s over. People simply don’t go out for lunch during the week anymore.” Instead, customers are increasingly ordering food to their homes or offices. Delivery services are no longer a supplement. For many restaurants, they are...
A Czech crowdfunding initiative raised over 142 Million CZK million in just five days to purchase generators, heaters, and power banks for Ukraine, organizer Martin Ondracek told Reuters. In recent months, Russia intensified its daily terror drone and missile attacks to focus specifically on Ukraine’s power grid. Amid freezing winter conditions, Russian forces continue to strike power stations, substations, and other electricity infrastructure across the country. Most oblasts of Ukraine are enduring scheduled outages, with some areas receiving only a few hours of power per day. The largest energy crisis has hit Kyiv, where electricity cuts and partial disruptions to heating and water supplies have continued for over two weeks. The Darek pro Putina (Gift for Putin) campaign has been collecting donations for Ukraine since Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022. Between 21 January and 26 January, the initiative gathered 126 million crowns, Ondracek said. Another 15 million CZK are expected from donors. “Over the weekend, we ordered two generators—diesel units mounted on trucks—costing 8 million crowns each, which are to be delivered to two small medical facilities,” Ondracek said, according to European Pravda. The initiative works with three foundations in Ukraine to avoid lengthy logistical and customs delays, but is...
Alcohol producers in the Czech Republic are reducing the alcohol content of selected spirits, responding to higher excise taxes and a long-term decline in alcohol consumption among younger people. The latest changes follow a five-percent increase in excise duty on alcohol. While the tax rise adds less than five crowns to the price of a half-liter bottle of 40-percent rum, producers say even small increases can affect sales. Rather than raise prices, some distillers have chosen to lower alcohol strength. Several products that previously contained 40 percent alcohol were first reduced to 37 percent. New reductions are now being introduced. Plzeňský Stock has begun bottling certain spirits at 35 percent alcohol. Palírna U Zeleného stromu, based in Prostějov, has made the same adjustment for part of its range. Producers say tax policy is not the only factor behind the move. Drinking habits among younger consumers are changing, with demand shifting toward lower-alcohol beverages. The trend coincides with the growing visibility of Dry February (Suchej únor), a campaign encouraging people to abstain from alcohol for the month of February. The rules of Dry February are simple. Not a drop of alcohol all February. The campaign focuses on the benefits that just...
The Czech initiative “Gift for Putin” (Darek pro Putina) has raised about 22 milion CZK for generators for Kyiv, which is suffering from Russia’s terrorist strikes on the energy sector. “Our fundraiser has very strong momentum,” Martin Ondracek, founder and head of the initiative, told Ukrinform. According to him, the SOS KYJEV fundraising campaign was launched on January 21 at around 19:00. In the first two hours, nearly 1 million Czech crowns were transferred to the account, and within 24 hours more than 10 million Czech crowns was collected. According to the latest data, nearly 10,130 donors have contributed so far. The organizers did not set a specific fundraising target, so the campaign remains open. Ondracek explained that the activists will not purchase equipment in the Czech Republic and deliver it to Ukraine themselves. Instead, they have contacted their partners in Kyiv, the Serhiy Prytula Charitable Foundation, to which they will transfer funds daily. The main goal, he said, is to provide rapid assistance by purchasing small portable generators for residential buildings, hospitals, and schools, as well as backup batteries and light sources. At the same time, fundraising continues for drones for Ukrainian defenders. The Czech initiative “Gift for Putin”...
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