Energy Demand Surges Amid Severe Frosts Due to severe frosts, gas and electricity consumption in the Czech Republic has risen sharply. Distributors report that gas consumption over the past week was roughly a quarter higher than during the same period last year. Electricity demand also increased, prompting the Temelín nuclear power plant to raise output from 1,086 to over 1,100 megawatts. Foreign Minister Challenges Presidential Authority New Czech Foreign Minister Peter Macinka stated unequivocally that the president has no real authority in forming the government. After President Petr Pavel again refused to appoint Filip Turek as Minister of the Environment, the leader of the Motorists Party said the movement would not nominate another candidate and would continue to push for Turek. The party insists that responsibility for cabinet formation lies with parliament, not the president. Czech Mortgage Rates Tick Up By early 2026, interest rates on new mortgages in the Czech Republic have increased slightly for the first time since last summer, averaging 4.94%. Banks continue to act cautiously amid inflation risks and economic uncertainty, and no major changes in rates are expected in the near term. Hepatitis A Deaths Spike in Czech Republic In 2025, 36 people died from...
For the first time in nearly a century, a reigning world chess champion will take part in a competitive tournament on Czech soil. Nineteen-year-old Dommaraju Gukesh is set to headline the 8th Prague International Chess Festival, bringing top-level chess back to the city in a way it has not seen since the interwar period. The festival will run from February 24 to March 6. Gukesh will compete in the closed Masters section, where he is scheduled to play nine classical games against an elite field that includes Czech grandmasters David Navara and Thai Dai Van Nguyen. For Czech chess, the appearance of the world champion marks a rare moment. “This is something our chess community has waited decades for,” said festival director Petr Boleslav. “Having the reigning champion here gives the event a weight it has not had in generations.” Alongside the Masters tournament, the festival will also host open competitions expected to draw around 400 players. Navara, the country’s most accomplished active player, knows Gukesh well. The two have faced each other three times, with the Czech grandmaster holding two wins and one draw. Their most recent encounter came in Prague in 2024, before Gukesh claimed the world title....
The Czech state debt has climbed to its highest level in history, nearing 3.7 trillion crowns, and economists warn that the trend is becoming increasingly hard to reverse. In just six years, the figure has more than doubled, turning public finances into one of the most pressing political and economic issues in the country. The impact of this growth is no longer abstract. Spread across the population, the current debt equals roughly 337,500 crowns per person. At the end of 2019, that figure stood at about 153,500 crowns, meaning the individual burden has more than doubled in a short period of time. Finance Minister Alena Schillerová has acknowledged that the situation is deteriorating. She recently pointed out that the share of state debt in gross domestic product has risen again, crossing the 43 percent mark. Only a few years ago, it stood closer to 42 percent. Forecasts suggest the ratio will continue to increase unless major changes are made to public spending and budget planning. Economists are increasingly vocal in their concerns. David Marek warns that the current path is unsustainable. In his view, debt is rising steadily without a clear plan to stop it, and the longer the trend...
The Czech Republic continues to hold its ground as one of Central Europe’s most attractive retail destinations. Last year, forty foreign brands made their debut in the country, confirming a steady inflow of international players despite ongoing economic uncertainty across the region. According to a market overview by Cushman & Wakefield, the number of new entries remained in line with recent years, though slightly below the exceptional peak of 2024, when 47 brands arrived. Food and drink lead the expansion Restaurants, cafés and fast-casual concepts once again dominated the list of arrivals. The most closely watched launch was the American burger chain Five Guys, which opened its first Czech outlet in Prague’s Máj department store. Other fresh names on the local dining scene included the health-focused dean&david, Mediterranean restaurant Koykan and Seven North, which opened inside the SiR Prague hotel. Live-music fans gained a new venue with the Piano Bar at Savarin Palace, while several specialty brands introduced new flavours to the market, from Italian aperitif Ciao Spritz to German cinnamon-roll concept Cinnamood. Supermarket chains also played a role in expanding the country’s culinary offer. Sushi Circle and Yuzu from Germany, along with France’s Mai Sushi, entered the Czech Republic...
Inflation in Czechia held at 2.1% in December Consumer prices in Czechia rose by 2.1% in December, the same as in November. This is according to a preliminary estimate released on Wednesday by the Czech Statistical Office (ČSÚ). The inflation rate was slightly above that of the eurozone, which stood at 2%, according to Eurostat data. The Czech National Bank holds record amount of gold in reserves The Czech National Bank (ČNB) purchased 20.4 tonnes of gold last year, a figure similar to that of 2024. By the end of the year, its reserves reached a record 71.6 tonnes, according to data released by the Bank on Wednesday. At the end of 2025, the value of the gold reserves stood at $10.1 billion and gold accounted for 5.76% of the total value of Czechia‘s foreign exchange reserves. Czech Republic Will Continue To Run Ammunition Initiative, Says Babis The Czech Republic will continue to coordinate the Ukraine ammunition initiative, but will not contribute any further money to the scheme, Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis (ANO) wrote on social media yesterday after a meeting of leaders of the ‘Coalition of the Willing’ – countries committed to supporting Ukraine. Babis said he made the decision...
Cold weather is set to remain across the Czech Republic in the days ahead, with meteorologists warning that winter conditions will not ease anytime soon. While temperatures may rise slightly toward the end of the week, cold weather is expected to stay, with more snow on the way — including up to 20 centimeters in some mountain areas. According to the Czech Hydrometeorological Institute, freezing temperatures will dominate the country through at least Thursday. Even though mornings have been slightly milder than earlier in the week, daytime temperatures are expected to stay below zero in most regions, keeping icy conditions firmly in place. On Friday and Saturday, some areas may briefly see temperatures rise above freezing, but the cold will not let up for long. This, however, will not bring real relief. Instead, it is likely to be accompanied by snowfall and, in some areas, mixed precipitation. Meteorologists warn that rain combined with snow, or even freezing rain, could affect parts of southwestern Bohemia outside the mountain regions, increasing the risk of icy roads and sidewalks. The most intense snowfall is expected in the Bohemian mountain ranges, where up to 20 centimeters of new snow could accumulate by the weekend....
Travel across the Czech Republic has become easier this winter. A new long-distance bus connection now links regions that were previously separated by complicated transfers, cutting travel time and simplifying journeys between northern Bohemia, eastern Bohemia and Silesia. Since December, FlixBus has been operating a renewed domestic service that runs across the country from Teplice to Havířov. The line, officially marked as route 855, connects areas that until now had no direct public transport link. For the first time, passengers can travel between the Podkrušnohoří region and Silesia on a single bus, without changing vehicles in Prague or Ostrava. The route passes through Prague, Hradec Králové, Jeseník and Opava before reaching the industrial towns of the Moravian-Silesian region. For residents of northern Bohemia, it opens a straightforward connection to Jeseníky and the Ostrava area. For people in eastern Bohemia and Silesia, it finally means direct access to Teplice and the north-west without planning around multiple transfers. According to FlixBus, the new line is part of a broader strategy to improve links between smaller towns and major transport hubs. Zdeněk Tesárek, the company’s commercial director for the Czech Republic, said in a statement that expanding services beyond the largest cities remains...
Czech Crown Hits Record High, Boosting Buying Power Abroad The Czech currency closed the year at its strongest level on record, surprising both analysts and the central bank. In December, the average exchange rate reached 24.26 crowns per euro, a level the koruna had never achieved before. The steady rise continued for most of the year without major swings, despite earlier forecasts from the Czech National Bank that had predicted a weaker performance. The stronger crown has had a clear effect on daily life: imports, foreign travel, and online purchases from abroad have become cheaper for Czech residents. Fake VZP Emails Promise Refunds, Aim to Steal Bank Details Authorities are warning the public about a new wave of scam emails pretending to come from the state health insurance company, VZP. The messages claim that recipients have overpaid their insurance contributions and are entitled to a refund, sometimes promising amounts in the tens of thousands of crowns. The real goal is to obtain bank details and drain accounts. VZP has stressed that it never sends refund notices by email. Any overpayment can only be checked through the official mobile app, by phone, or in person at a branch office. Avalanche Warning...
Foreigners moving to or visiting the Czech Republic often describe locals as distant, reserved, or difficult to approach. According to the Expat Insider 2025 survey, this perception places the country among the least friendly nations in the world, ranking second from the bottom. Only Kuwait scored lower, while Panama topped the list as the most welcoming destination. The survey reflects a long-standing image of Czech society as cautious and emotionally restrained. Smiling at strangers is uncommon, casual conversation is rare, and personal space is closely guarded. While this behavior may appear unfriendly to outsiders, Czech experts say it is rooted more in cultural habit than hostility. Psychologist Lenka Čandová explains that Czech communication tends to avoid surface-level interaction. People prefer meaningful conversations and often skip what many cultures consider polite small talk. For foreigners, this can feel abrupt or cold, especially in everyday situations such as shops, offices, or public transport. Another factor is the Czech approach to honesty. Locals often speak directly and without softening their words. What is intended as openness or efficiency may be interpreted elsewhere as rudeness. Czech humor can also play a role. Irony, sarcasm, and joking about serious topics are common, but these cues...
Despite a week of freezing temperatures, ice on Prague’s ponds and reservoirs remains too thin for skating, firefighters warn. Several volunteer fire brigades across the city have issued alerts on social media, urging residents not to venture onto frozen water surfaces too early. According to Miroslav Řezáč, spokesperson for the Prague Fire Brigade, ice must be at least ten centimetres thick before it can safely support a single person. If several people are on the ice at the same time, firefighters recommend a minimum thickness of 18 centimetres. Anything less poses a serious risk of breaking through. Checks in Praguewere conducted by employees of the Forests of the Capital City of Prague, primarily for operational reasons. On Monday, ice thickness was recorded at nine centimetres at the Hostivař Reservoir, eight centimetres at Hamerský and Kyjský ponds, seven centimetres at Džbán, and 12 centimetres at Jiviny. Other locations, including Počernický Pond and Pískovna, are inspected on a random basis. Firefighters emphasise that ice thickness can vary significantly within a single pond. Areas near shores, inlets, outlets, or spots with water movement may be far weaker than they appear. Volunteer firefighters in Dubeč have warned that even if part of a pond...
Believe it or not, the history of Czech skiing started in Prague, right in the center of the city exactly 135 years ago today. On January 5, 1887, skiing fan Josef Rössler-Ořovský used Prague’s Wenceslas Square, with a fairly friendly incline, as the first Czech ski run. Back then, winters were considerably tougher and snowfall more intense to be able to accomplish the feat. Afterward, skiing as a sport began to draw greater interest from the population. In the 20th century, after the fall of communism, foreign goods and sporting equipment became available for the first time in four decades, resulting in the modernization of ski equipment and ski resorts. Josef Rössler-Ořovský Josef Rössler-Ořovský (June 29, 1869, in Prague – January 17, 1933, in Prague) was a versatile Czech athlete and capable sports organizer. He is still one of the greatest personalities in Czech sport. Josef was an outstanding rower and skier, he played football for the Parisian club White Rowers and the English Black Trials Fulham and he was the first Czech football referee. He founded the Czech Ski-Club, the Czech Yacht Club, and the Czech Lawn Tennis Club. He shared in the founding of the Association of Skiers of...
The Czech Republic faces a growing shortage of professional drivers, with transport companies warning that the gap is now affecting both freight and passenger services. Industry representatives estimate that around 20,000 truck drivers and 5,000 bus drivers are currently missing from the labour market, and the situation shows little sign of easing. Efforts to attract more women into the profession, expand access to driving licences, and offer retraining programmes have so far failed to reverse the trend. Instead of stabilising, the shortage is deepening, according to the Česmad Bohemia Association of Car Transporters, which represents major road haulage companies. As a result, carriers are increasingly looking beyond the European Union. Česmad Bohemia has been in talks with Transport Minister Ivan Bednárik about simplifying the process for recruiting drivers from so-called third countries. The association argues that without faster and clearer rules, Czech transport risks falling behind neighbouring states. Employing drivers from non-EU countries is one of the few remaining options. However, heavy bureaucracy is a major obstacle. While similar procedures in Poland can take only a few weeks, the Czech system often stretches over several months, discouraging both employers and applicants. Some steps have already been taken. From January 1,...
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