The Czech government has decided not to sell L-159 light combat aircraft to Ukraine, according to Tomio Okamura, leader of the far-right SPD party. The decision follows a briefing by the defence minister, who told the cabinet that the Czech army would need to retain the jets. Okamura criticised Ukraine’s proposal to purchase the aircraft, which President Petr Pavel publicly supported last weekend. Former prime minister Andrej Babiš said on Monday that no final decision had been taken, but confirmed that the defence ministry had advised against the sale. Okamura argued that replacing the L-159s would cost Prague more than it would earn from selling the domestically produced aircraft to Ukraine. President Pavel has defended the proposal, saying Ukraine’s interest represents an opportunity for the Czech defence industry. During a visit to Ukraine last week, he said selling four of the Czech military’s 24 L-159 jets would not weaken the country’s defence capabilities. The disagreement highlights a broader foreign policy divide between the Ukraine-friendly president, a former NATO general, and the new populist-led government, which has been more critical of EU policies on military support for Kyiv. Shortly after taking office, Babiš was urged by Pavel to pursue a “constructive”...
Pope Leo XIV received the President of the Czech Republic, Petr Pavel, in the Vatican on Monday morning. According to a statement released by the Holy See Press Office, the President subsequently met with Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Holy See’s Secretary of State, accompanied by Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher. “During the cordial discussions at the Secretariat of State,” the statement said, “appreciation for the good diplomatic relations between the Holy See and the Czech Republic was renewed, and the intention to further strengthen them was reaffirmed.” It added that the discussions focused on issues of common interest and on several socio-political matters of a regional and international nature, with particular attention to the ongoing conflicts, “underscoring the importance of an urgent commitment to peace and to the recovery of the principles and values that underpin international coexistence.” Topics included also relations between Europe and the United States, global challenges, and sexual abuse within the Catholic Church. This was President Pavel’s first visit to the papal residence since the election of the new pontiff last year. He planned to invite Pope Leo XIV to visit Czechia, a trip no pope has made since Benedict XVI in 2009. Would you like us...
Prague has undergone significant changes over the past 30 years… Rare photos from the socialist era of the 1980s show a quieter city, free from the crowds of tourists and the commercial signs we see today. Jindřišská Street, which connects Wenceslas Square and Senovážné Square, still looks similar today, even though the tram routes have changed. However, Charles Bridge is now packed with visitors almost all day, while in the 1980s, it was a peaceful spot for locals early in the morning. Photos of children playing in Rytířská Street remind us of a time when people still lived in the city center, something that feels unimaginable today. The old-new synagogue is one of Prague’s iconic sites, but in the 1980s, it had a neglected appearance, with a worn facade and an untidy interior. Thankfully, it has been restored to reflect its historical importance. Wenceslas Square has also changed. Slogans like “With the Soviet Union forever” have disappeared, and the National Museum has been beautifully renovated, making the square a much more pleasant place to visit. Photos: vintag.es
Prague City Council will commission a feasibility study this year to evaluate a circular transport connection. The project could be either metro line O or a new tram ring. The proposed route runs from Dejvice via Smíchov, Budějovická, Vršovice, Žižkov, Vysočany, and Čakovice, then back to Prague 6. The study may also include possible extensions of metro lines A and C. The plan was originally prepared under Adam Scheinherr (Praha Sobě) during Mayor Zdeněk Hřib’s (Pirates) term. It was first called line E and later renamed metro O. The goal is to improve travel between peripheral districts so passengers can avoid the city center. The circular metro is designed to connect neighborhoods that currently rely mainly on tram and bus lines. It aims to reduce congestion in central stations such as Můstek, Muzeum, and Florenc. Jaromír Beránek (Pirates), Deputy Minister for Transport, said building a new metro line is a long-term project. He said the city cannot fund everything from its own budget. The state will need to contribute to many construction projects. Beránek favors a tram ring because it is faster and cheaper. He said: “I am trying to remind the public that we are working intensively on new...
Three Czech nationals were killed on Saturday afternoon after an avalanche struck near Pusterwald in the Austrian region of Styria, police confirmed. The accident occurred shortly before 4:30 pm during a ski tour in the area. Four other members of the group were rescued and evacuated to safety by emergency services. At the time of the incident, the avalanche danger level in the Pusterwald area was rated two out of five, indicating a moderate risk. Despite the classification, mountain rescue authorities have repeatedly warned that local conditions can change rapidly, particularly at higher elevations. The Pusterwald tragedy came only days after another fatal avalanche involving a Czech teenager in Austria. Earlier in the week, a 13-year-old Czech boy was killed while skiing off-piste near the Alpine resort of Bad Gastein. The incident occurred around midday when a sudden snow slide swept the teenager away. He was skiing with another minor at the time. Rescue teams reached the boy quickly, but despite intensive efforts, they were unable to revive him, according to local mountain rescue officials. Authorities later stressed that off-piste skiing carries heightened risks, especially following recent snowfall and shifting snowpack conditions. Austrian rescue services have described the current avalanche...
January 16 marks exactly 51 years since Czech student Jan Palach’s self-immolation at the top of Wenceslas Square that would lead to his death in hospital three days later.
Work on the largest reconstruction in the history of Prague’s Masaryk Station has continued through the winter, with key advances on the eastern side of the site near Vítkov and Libeň. The future elevated platform is now structurally tied to nearby buildings, marking a major step in a project meant to reshape rail travel in the city center. Engineers have also completed upgrades to the technology building that will house the base for the European Train Control System. This installation is central to the station’s shift to modern safety standards and higher traffic capacity. Progress is visible in areas used by passengers as well. Construction of new platforms is ongoing, and paving has been finished in the square outside the planned café facing Na Florenci Street. In the Vítkov section, crews completed a new pressurized sewage system before the end of last year, removing a major obstacle to further development. During work on the elevated platform, specialists identified the need for additional reinforcement in one section. Independent experts from Czech and foreign universities recommended adding a support column as the most effective solution. Construction based on this plan is set to begin in the spring. The Railway Administration is now...
On the night of January 15, a truck got stuck on Nerudova Street, near Prague Castle, damaging a parked car. The driver told firefighters he had followed his navigation system into the narrow historic streets. The truck could not move forward. While trying to reverse, it hit a parked car. Firefighters and police helped the truck get back on the road and leave safely. Incidents like this are common in the Czech Republic and abroad. Last February, a Czech truck driver got stuck on a ski slope in Austria. In Berchtesgaden, Bavaria, a woman ignored road signs and ended up on a toboggan run after relying on her GPS. In February 2024, an 18-year-old driver in Český Krumlov drove onto a ski slope and crashed into a cable car pole. Authorities warn drivers to be careful in historic city centers. Narrow streets and pedestrian zones make GPS guidance unreliable. Dnes v noci zasahovali hasiči z HÚOPH společně s @PolicieCZ v ulici Nerudova. Navigace sem dovedla řidiče kamionu, který se zasekl v polovině ulice, ale nemohl se dostat dál. Při pokusu o návrat poškodil jedno zaparkované vozidlo. Kamion se díky koordinaci všech zasahujících… pic.twitter.com/AQjwREQdlE — Hasiči Praha 🚒 (@HasiciPraha) January 15,...
Conscription Debate Returns as Army Prepares New Mobilisation Plan The possibility of introducing mandatory military service is once again being actively discussed in the Czech Republic. Chief of the General Staff Karel Řehka said the army has prepared a new mobilisation concept for the government that would allow limited conscription if voluntary reserves prove insufficient. The plan does not involve mass enlistment, as before 2004, but would focus on recruiting specific specialists. Priority would go to medical staff, IT and technical experts, communications specialists, engineers, logisticians, heavy equipment drivers, and people with rare skills such as drone pilots or previous military experience. Icy Conditions Force Closure of Prague Cemeteries All city cemeteries in Prague have been temporarily closed due to dangerous icy conditions. The only exception applies to mourners attending already scheduled funeral ceremonies at Olšany Cemetery. Former MP Dominik Feri faces further rape charge Former member of parliament Dominik Feri (TOP09) has been charged with an additional rape, prosecutors confirmed to the news site iRozhlas on Tuesday. The case involves a 17-year-old girl who said she consented to sex but alleged that Feri had removed the condom.Feri is currently serving a three-year sentence for raping two other girls, including...
The 2026 Children and Youth Olympic Games, set to take place in Prague this June, have revealed their official mascots: two sea lions named Bublinka and Hugo. The animals were introduced to the public at the Prague Zoo by Tokyo water slalom silver medalist Lukáš Rohan. The mascots will travel from the zoo to various sports venues across the city from June 21 to 25, 2026, accompanying young athletes and fans throughout the competitions. Their aquatic nature reflects the games’ emphasis on movement and activity, particularly in water sports. “The animal was selected by Prague City Hall in collaboration with the Prague Zoo. Local schools were involved in naming one of the mascots to raise awareness and encourage children to attend the games,” said Prague Mayor Bohuslav Svoboda. Bublinka’s name, for example, was suggested by a student from Jan Masaryk Elementary School in Prague 2. Twenty schools submitted fifty proposals in total during this stage of the program. Artists Petr Novák, known for his work in comics and illustration, and Martin Šinkovský, a screenwriter and author, designed the mascots and their communication concept. “The sea lion is sometimes clumsy, but it loves to move. The important thing is not to...
Prague is set to build a network of 1,500 public electric vehicle (EV) charging stations across the city, with a total investment of CZK 493 million. Most of the funding will come from the European Transport 2021–2027 program. The new stations, which will be installed over the next two years, will provide up to 22 kW of AC charging. They are designed to support both residential areas and public parking, including Park & Ride (P+R) facilities. “Prague will gradually build a network of around 1,500 public charging points, allowing residents to charge their electric cars directly on city streets,” said Jaromír Beránek, Deputy Mayor for Transport. “European funds cover most of the costs. The project addresses one of the main barriers to electromobility: the lack of accessible infrastructure.” The project aims to make electric transport practical for all Prague residents by integrating chargers into urban infrastructure rather than relying solely on private or fast-charging solutions. The installation will be led by two municipal companies: Technical Communications Administration of Prague (TSK) and Technology of Prague (THMP). THMP will focus on residential areas, while TSK will deploy stations in public parking garages and P+R lots. Modern, Smart Charging Stations will be accessible...
The world-famous Irish dance production Rhythm of the Dance returns to the Czech Republic in 2026 with a new tour that brings the spirit of Ireland to three major stages. The company will perform on February 3 at the Prague Congress Centre, February 4 at Boby Hall in Brno, and February 5 at Gong in Ostrava. Get your ticket here. Known for its sharp choreography, live music and strong sense of tradition, the show has built a reputation as one of the most successful Irish dance productions in the world. The upcoming tour promises a fresh programme that combines classic step dance with new staging and musical arrangements, offering audiences three evenings filled with rhythm, emotion and visual power. Since its creation more than two decades ago, Rhythm of the Dance has travelled across dozens of countries, performing on leading international stages and drawing crowds from every corner of the globe. Its appeal lies in the close bond between dancers and musicians, who together create a performance that speaks clearly even without words. The 2026 programme introduces a new artistic concept. Energetic group numbers are balanced with quieter, more lyrical moments inspired by the deep roots of Irish music. Large...
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