Presidential election law leaves holes in the rules of campaign funding As the first-ever direct presidential election in the Czech Republic draws closer, now just two months away, and the list of candidates is whittled down to a handful of names, those still in the race are increasingly competing against each other to court powerful… Keep Reading
Imagine a world without cash. There would be no more coins weighing down your purse or wallet and certainly no more visits to the ATM. That scenario seems a long way off, but some inside the banking industry are hoping prepaid cards will be the solution to a cashless future. The cards, which have been… Keep Reading
Banks look to new mobile technologies to spruce up their services A new wave of mobile technologies, like the Czech National Bank’s “Money” application, above, is facilitating local customer payments via payments via smart-phone and tablet apps.. As Prague becomes ever more accustomed to the sight of iPads, iPhones and other similar gadgets in the… Keep Reading
Medics, officials enjoyed ski trips and sightseeing excursions to Australia Hundreds of Czech doctors, pharmacists and government officials have been implicated in a global bribery scandal involving the pharmaceutical giant Pfizer, while another international drug company has acknowledged it collaborates with most of the members of the National Immunization Commission, the body that determines which… Keep Reading
KPMG says complacency could turn into a ‘ticking time bomb’ for banks Many banks have been struggling just to survive the past few years, and a recent study shows while management is redirecting the bulk of attention and resources to propping up its institutions, focus on preventing money laundering is slipping, even as it remains… Keep Reading
Amendment is a ‘major leap forward’ in fight against graft Anti-corruption campaigners are lauding an amendment to the law on public procurements that took effect April 1, and though most agree the changes represent an important step in combating graft and the wasting of public funds, some ministers have warned they will pile on extra… Keep Reading
Having children shouldn’t automatically cut off options or halt career growth, Monika Gmucová says. It’s with this idea in mind that Gmucová, along with four other women, came up with the concept of Baby Office, a space where freelance professionals can bring their babies and young children to be supervised through onsite childcare services while… Keep Reading
Grid operators say improvements are needed to accommodate increased renewable energy Europe’s goal of amplifying renewable energy usage across a single market is still frustrated by fragmented regional electric grids of varying quality, and as an important electricity transmission country for Central and Eastern Europe, the Czech Republic could face blackouts if a more cohesive… Keep Reading
Environmental concerns, memories of communist-era forced labor unearthed Following months of discussions where it has become increasingly clear the government will look to significantly expand the use of nuclear energy to meet a large part of energy demand in the next 60 years, a proposal has emerged that encourages the expansion of uranium mining to… Keep Reading
French company says nuclear plant tender is about experience Bidding on the lucrative public tender to build two new reactors at ČEZ’s Temelín nuclear power plant opened in October, and the three competitors are lobbying hard to ink contracts with Czech suppliers and contractors to make their bids more attractive when they are submitted next… Keep Reading