Czech president wades into politics, promotes business and plants tree Czech President Miloš Zeman is in Israel on a three-day visit that began Oct. 7. The trip, which is intended to promote trade, has not been without controversy. Zeman repeated his opinion that embassies should move from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem after Israeli-Palestinian reconciliation, during… Keep Reading
Retrofitted trams will do double duty as rolling pubs in second-largest city With the hectic pace of modern life, almost everyone has shifted to multitasking. The Czech Republic’s second city has been brewing up a plan to let people get more out of the time they spend between hopping on and hopping off the tram.… Keep Reading
Officials scramble to attract investors after multinationals’ exit Poland’s government has announced plans to improve regulation and postpone tax collection on shale gas production in hopes of encouraging investors to continue their explorations for the fuel, following the withdrawal of three North American companies from explorations in the country. Doubts over the scale of Poland’s… Keep Reading
UPDATE: Dozens injured after a suspected gas explosion in the center of Prague Dozens of people have been injured after a suspected gas explosion rocked the center of Prague this morning, April 29, at 9:56 a.m., leaving debris littering a street and causing police to seal off a large swathe of the city. The blast… Keep Reading
Eva Jiřičná reflects on her recent award and rise in a male-dominated industry “Everyone said, ‘Girls can’t be architects,’ ” Eva Jiřičná recalls. “So to stop the process of everyone telling me not to study architecture, I did.” Now one of the most significant Czech architects and designers, Jiřičná has made a name for herself… Keep Reading
Anti-drug fighters note higher production of illegal methamphetamine Inching slowly up the stairs of a gray and nondescript apartment block in the northwest border town of Cheb, a group of anti-drug police officers – some kitted out in full riot gear – prepare to raid the home of two suspected methamphetamine dealers. Without so much… Keep Reading
Links to Bulgarian criminal firm exacerbate ČEZ’s East European headache Energy giant ČEZ is trying to distance itself from the mysterious criminal group TIM, after the mafia-style organization bought a significant stake of the Czech company’s operations in Bulgaria. TIM is widely considered to be the most powerful organized-crime empire in Bulgaria, boasting 30,000 employees… Keep Reading
Klaus delivers stinging assesment of Nečas government Online banking in the Czech Republic has been disrupted after hackers targeted the websites of some of the largest financial institutions in the latest wave of cyber attacks to hit the country. The websites of the three largest Czech banks – ČSOB, Komerční banka and Česká spořitelna –… Keep Reading
Concerns over pricing, insurance coverage remain as bill passes through Senate Medical marijuana may soon be legally sold and available via doctors’ prescriptions, with senators overwhelmingly approving the legislation in a 60-7 vote Jan. 30. The bill, which now awaits a presidential signature, marks a major step toward official acceptance of marijuana use in the… Keep Reading
RFE/RL chief’s controversial resignation reverberates in Russia and beyond The president of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) has resigned from his lucrative Prague-based position, angrily denying claims he was forced to quit because of wasteful personal spending at the U.S. government-funded broadcaster. Some former employees at the embattled international broadcasting service have accused Steve Korn… Keep Reading
