Morning Briefing │ Thursday, February 29th, 2024

* LAWS:

The Czech lower house on Wednesday approved a bill on same-sex unions. The law should give same-sex couples the same rights as those of heterosexual married couples with the exception of adopting children.

The only case in which homosexuals will be able to adopt a child is if one of them is the child’s biological parent.

* BUSINESS:

The Czech Anti-Trust Office has approved the sale of the Czech liquor company Jan Becher – Karlovarská Becherovka to the Polish group Maspex.

The famous brand is being sold by Pernod Ricard, a French company that has owned it since 2001.

* POLITICS:

An informal meeting of the foreign ministers of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) countries will take place in Prague on May 30-31, the Foreign Ministry announced on Tuesday.

The meeting will mark this year’s 25th anniversary of Czechia’s membership in NATO and the 75th anniversary of the alliance’s founding.

* CULTURE:

The Czech National Bank (CNB) unveiled a commemorative silver coin worth CZK 200 crowns in Litomyšl Wednesday to honor composer Bedřich Smetana’s 200th birth anniversary on March 2.

Designed by Jiri Hanuš, the coin features Smetana’s portrait and “My Country” inscription, with a total mintage of 21,500 pieces.

* WEATHER:

Thursday should be partly cloudy with day temperatures between 11 and 16 degrees Celsius.