The holiday season has ended, and it’s time to deal with your Christmas tree. Many people traditionally dispose of their trees on Epiphany. Here are five environmentally friendly and proper ways to handle your tree’s disposal—and what NOT TO DO. 1. Avoid the Trash Bin In urban areas, the simplest solution is to place your Christmas tree near a designated mixed waste bin or a container for sorted waste. If these bins are located in a courtyard or other restricted areas, take the tree to a publicly accessible collection point. Some municipalities provide special disposal locations to avoid tree piles on the streets, while others set specific collection days. Always check your local authority’s website for precise guidelines. However, don’t place the tree inside the trash bin or container—it can clog the space, making it unusable for others. Instead, leave it neatly nearby for collection. 2. Composting or Recycling Yards If you miss the designated collection days or prefer an alternative, you can transport the tree to a composting plant or recycling yard. Numerous facilities across the country accept Christmas trees for composting or shredding. You can locate nearby composting centers via local maps or municipal websites. 3. Reuse in...
Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš will review his predecessors’ initiative to supply ammunition to Ukraine. He considers the initiative “a good thing” but demands a corruption check and will discuss it on January 7. As Babiš noted, the initiative regarding weapons for Ukraine is a “good thing,” but the Czech Republic must ensure that the project will be implemented without corruption. He added that currently, the main task is to stop the military conflict. According to Babiš, he first learned about the ammunition initiative at a meeting with the director of the Czech Agency for Intergovernmental Defense Cooperation on December 22, 2025. This issue is to be discussed on January 7 at a meeting of the Czech State Security Council. Czech Parliament Speaker Tomio Okamura spoke out against providing weapons to Ukraine, calling the war “senseless.” He stated that Czech pensioners’ money should not go to support “pro-war propaganda.” In response, Czech opposition deputies want to initiate a vote on the dismissal of SPD party leader Tomio Okamura from the post of Speaker of the lower house of parliament. Czech President Petr Pavel expressed concern about Tomio Okamura’s anti-Ukrainian statements. He stated that he would raise this issue for discussion...
The 2026 meteor season is shaping up to be one of the most favorable in recent years. Astronomers report that several major meteor showers will peak under near-ideal viewing conditions, including the Perseids in August, expected to reach their strongest levels in two decades. During most major meteor showers, moonlight will be minimal or absent, leaving skies dark enough to reveal even faint streaks that are usually lost in brighter conditions. August: Perseids in absolute darkness The standout moment will arrive in mid-August, when meteor counts are expected to reach levels not seen in roughly twenty years. But strong displays will also appear in spring, late autumn, and early winter, offering multiple chances to observe fast-moving debris as it burns up in Earth’s atmosphere. The August Perseids, the most widely followed meteor shower of the year, will peak on the night of August 12 into the early hours of August 13. With a new Moon falling at the same time, viewing conditions will be close to ideal. Observers under clear skies could see as many as 80 meteors per hour, making this the strongest Perseid display in two decades. Spring and Autumn: From the Lyrids to the Leonids Spring brings...
Prague Zoo Sees Its Strongest Attendance in a Decade Prague Zoo ended last year with 1.45 million visitors, marking its best result in ten years and its strongest performance since the pandemic. Zoo officials say interest was driven largely by young gorillas Mobi and Gaia, who quickly became one of the site’s main attractions. Attendance was also boosted by several new animals, including Achilles, a Sumatran tiger, and Oslo, a South African sea lion. The figures suggest that visitor numbers have returned to pre-pandemic levels. Prague Public Transport Switches to Semi-Holiday Timetable Public transport in Prague has entered a semi-holiday operating mode from January 5 to March 1. During this period, intervals for trams, buses, and trolleybuses are longer by around 20 percent. The transport authority says the change reflects a seasonal decline in passenger numbers. Metro services remain unaffected, with trains running at standard intervals. IKEA Extends Collection of Used Pillows and Textiles IKEA Czech Republic has prolonged its recycling campaign for used pillows and bedding, which was originally due to end last year. The initiative will now continue until April 30. Customers can return sleep products from any manufacturer and material, as long as they are clean, dry,...
A devastating fire that broke out during New Year’s Eve celebrations at a bar in Switzerland has left more than 40 people dead and over a hundred others injured. The Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed on Saturday that a national of the Czech Republic was hurt in the blaze. While officials have not yet released details about the person’s age or the extent of their injuries, they confirmed that the individual is among those receiving medical care following the incident. The scale of the disaster has pushed Swiss authorities to seek international assistance. Switzerland has formally asked European Union member states to help treat patients suffering from severe burns and inhalation injuries. Czech Health Minister Adam Vojtěch said the Czech Republic responded without delay, offering hospital capacity for patients requiring specialized treatment. Some of the injured are now being considered for transfer abroad, including to the burn unit at Královské Vinohrady University Hospital in Prague, one of the most advanced facilities of its kind in Central Europe. Many of those hospitalized are reported to be in critical condition, with serious airway damage caused by smoke and extreme heat. Near the destroyed Le Constellation bar, mourners have created an improvised...
On Tuesday, January 6, 2026, winter swimmers from the Czech Winter Swimming Union will dive into the Vltava River on Three Kings Day. This takes place every year on January 6, at noon, under Charles Bridge, at the spot where St. John of Nepomuk was thrown into the water. The winter swimmers will dive into the Vltava from the deck of the Vodouch boat at the fifth bridge pier of Charles Bridge (counting from the Old Town side). The event, now held for the fifteenth year, combines endurance sport, historical symbolism, and a distinctly Czech sense of ritual. More than thirty swimmers are expected to take part this year, including several participants from abroad. The entry point lies near the fifth bridge pillar on the Old Town side of Charles Bridge. Participants will dive in from the deck of the boat Vodouch and swim a route measuring roughly two hundred meters downstream. Their destination is the pier beneath the last preserved arch of the former Judith Bridge, the medieval structure that preceded today’s Charles Bridge. Upon arrival, the swimmers will gather in the historic river space to share a warm punch traditionally prepared for ferry workers. The moment also serves...
Road Deaths Reach Historic Low Road safety figures brought more positive news. A total of 428 people were killed in traffic accidents last year, marking the second consecutive year with the lowest number of fatalities since 1961, when nationwide statistics were first recorded. Hundreds Released After Child Support Law Change A legal change at the start of the year has led to the release of 302 people previously imprisoned for failing to pay child support. Under the revised law, non-payment is now considered a criminal offence only if it places a child in extreme material hardship. As the year begins, the combination of political disputes, diplomatic reactions and domestic reforms suggests that developments in Czechia will continue to attract attention both at home and abroad. Analysts say GDP trends point to 2.5% growth in 2025 Analysts say developments in gross domestic product confirm that the Czech economy is heading towards growth of around 2.5% in 2025, up from about 1% the year before. According to revised data from the Czech Statistical Office, GDP rose by 2.8% year on year and 0.8% quarter on quarter in the third quarter. Ukrainian Ambassador Rejects Okamura’s Remarks Ukraine’s ambassador to the Czech Republic, Vasyl...
When Prime Minister Andrej Babiš used his New Year’s address to suggest the creation of a Czech Flag Day, he likely expected a symbolic gesture of national unity. Instead, the proposal has revived an old and unresolved dispute rooted in the breakup of Czechoslovakia more than three decades ago. Babiš has said he wants March 30 to be marked as Czech Flag Day, recalling the moment in 1920 when the flag was formally adopted. Yet that date refers not to a Czech national symbol, but to the flag of Czechoslovakia — a state that ceased to exist in 1993. The distinction matters, particularly in Slovakia, where the legacy of the shared federation remains sensitive. When Czechoslovakia dissolved peacefully at the end of 1992, the federal parliament adopted a constitutional law governing the separation. The law was clear: neither successor state was permitted to use the former federation’s state symbols. This included the flag, which until that point represented both nations equally. Despite this, when the Czech Republic formally came into existence on January 1, 1993, it adopted a national flag identical in design to the former Czechoslovak banner. Slovakia objected at the time, arguing that the move violated the agreed...
The Ukrainian ambassador to the Czech Republic, Vasyl Zvarych, voiced sharp criticism of the statements by the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies of the Czech Republic, Tomio Okamura, voiced in his New Year’s address. He stressed that Okamura’s words indicate a position formed under the influence of Russian propaganda. “The insulting and hateful statements by Tomio Okamura about Ukraine and Ukrainians, voiced today in his New Year’s address, we regard as his personal position, formed, evidently, under the influence of Russian propaganda. The words he has used about my fellow citizens and Ukraine, in particular about the democratically elected leadership of the Ukrainian state, are unworthy and absolutely unacceptable. They contradict the principles of a democratic society and the values on which the Czech Republic rests as an integral part of the European community”, said Zvarych Zvarych expressed hope that state authorities and Czech civil society will provide due assessment of these statements and their alignment with the high public office held by Okamura. “I believe that our republic will jump off the Brussels train, which, despite warnings from the U.S. government, is heading toward World War III, – said Okamura. – Money flows in all directions, and everyone...
Despite a nationwide ban on certain fireworks, celebrations continued across the Czech Republic on New Year’s Eve. A man in České Budějovice suffered severe injuries after handling high-powered F4-class pyrotechnics. According to South Bohemian police spokesperson Jiří Mazner, the fireworks exploded in his hands, resulting in the amputation of both wrists. Police have launched an investigation under illegal weaponry regulations. Specialized stores note that professional F4 fireworks can only be purchased by individuals with a proper license, certifying competence with P2, T2, or F4 pyrotechnic products. These include large ball bombs and other high-powered devices, which are unsuitable for untrained users. While the majority of New Year celebrations in the Czech Republic passed without major incidents, authorities reported several injuries and fires caused by fireworks. Emergency services assisted victims in Prague, the Zlín Region, and other locations. The police received 501 reports related to pyrotechnics nationwide, with the highest numbers in Prague (106) and the Central Bohemian Region (74). In some areas, recreational fireworks triggered small fires at various sites. New Fireworks Regulations Still Challenged An amendment to the Czech fireworks law, effective from December, has tightened restrictions in many cities. The law prohibits the use of fireworks near schools,...
The first child born in the Czech Republic in 2026 arrived just minutes into the new year. A boy named Matyáš was born at 12:07 a.m. on January 1 at Pilsen University Hospital, according to hospital officials. Hospital spokesperson Gabriela Levorová confirmed that both the newborn and his mother are in good health. Matyáš weighed 3,510 grams at birth. His family, including his three-year-old brother and father, are expected to welcome him home soon. Births continued across Pilsen in the early hours of New Year’s Day. At Mulač Hospital, two more children were born later that morning. The first was Denis, who entered the world at 5:41 a.m., also weighing 3,510 grams. He was followed by Amálie, born at 8:30 a.m., with a birth weight of 3,180 grams. Interestingly, the timing of the first birth mirrors last year’s pattern. On January 1, 2025, the first baby born in the region was also a boy, delivered at exactly seven minutes after midnight. His name was Benjamin. In Prague, the first baby of the new year was born at Thomayer Hospital shortly after midnight. A boy named Oliver arrived at 12:31 a.m. Across the Czech Republic, the arrival of the year’s first...
Prague drivers will bid farewell to free parking for electric vehicles on Wednesday. Starting January, owners of electric cars will pay half the fee charged to conventional combustion-engine vehicles, while plug-in hybrid owners will lose all previous parking concessions. The change aims to free up parking spaces for local residents, a move strongly supported by several city districts. Deputy Mayor for Transport Jaromír Beránek, representing the Pirate Party, says the measure is part of Prague’s broader effort to reduce the number of vehicles on city streets. “Central districts have reported that many drivers, including those from outside Prague, occupy parking spaces meant for residents. This adjustment will help address that issue,” Beránek said. Drivers of plug-in hybrids—vehicles combining combustion and electric engines—will also lose their parking perks. “From January 1, benefits for plug-in hybrids will end. We now require zero CO2 emissions per kilometer to qualify for discounts. Purely battery or hydrogen-powered vehicles will continue to enjoy a 50 percent discount on both short-term and long-term parking permits,” Beránek added. Electric car owners across Prague will no longer enjoy citywide free parking. Discussions on introducing a Prague-wide parking card for electric vehicles are ongoing, with technical details still being finalized....
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