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Czech Republic

The latest news, analysis and opinion on Czech Republic. In-depth analysis, industry insights and expert opinion.

Capital

Prague

Head of State

President Petr Pavel

Head of Government

Prime Minister Petr Fiala

Smoke from a massive wildfire in Belgium’s Hohes Venn region is seen from Germany, on Sunday. Photo: dpa

European Union

Belgium battles worst wildfire on record, EU allies come to aid

Helicopters from the Czech Republic and Swedish water-bombing aircraft were due to arrive under the European Union civil protection mechanism.

26 minutes ago

Food and Drinks

This chef turns down-to-earth Cantonese recipes into luxury diasporic gastronomy

31 Jul 2026 - 7:01PM

Lessons from China's history

Reflections | When Chinese emperors and prime ministers fell out, the results could be deadly

25 Jul 2026 - 8:15AM

Climate change

Raging wildfires in France and Spain force over 200,000 to flee

Spain has declared its first national emergency for wildfires, while France is mobilising its armed forces to help with the response.

25 Jul 2026 - 1:46PM

A French Civil Security Canadair CL-415 aircraft flies past flames burning a forest surrounding Cotignac, southeastern France, on Thursday. Photo: AFP

China-EU relations

China adds 14 EU entities to export control list, hitting back at sanctions

Ministry of Commerce action follows a new round of EU sanctions on Russia that affected 14 firms from mainland China and Hong Kong.

24 Jul 2026 - 7:40PMvideocam

Aviation accidents

1 dead, 4 injured in Czech army helicopter crash

The Czech army bought eight helicopters and four combat helicopters from the US in 2019.

24 Jul 2026 - 2:43AM

China-EU relations

Czech legislators ‘testing the waters’ with China visit after years of tension

A change of government in Prague late last year signalled a more pragmatic and Beijing-friendly approach.

20 Jul 2026 - 8:24PM

Tomio Okamura, the speaker of the lower house, is leading the Czech delegation. Photo: EPA

Germany

German far-right activist sent to men’s prison despite gender change

Liebich, who was sentenced as a man, legally changed gender after Germany’s Self-Determination Act came into effect in 2024.

16 Jul 2026 - 6:35PM

Crime

Norway police says 28 arrested in international child porn operation

The men, aged 22 to 54, had been arrested in Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, Canada, the Czech Republic, Poland, and Germany.

8 Jul 2026 - 7:15PM

Protests around the world

Thousands protest Czech government plan for public broadcaster funding

Critics warn shifting TV and radio funding to the state budget will dismantle media independence.

22 Jun 2026 - 10:19AM

A protest rally in Prague on Sunday in support of public media. Photo: Reuters

China-EU relations

EU hits ‘make-or-break moment’ as divided leaders confront ‘China shock 2.0’

EU member states poised to confront internal divisions and launch aggressive trade defences against systemic threat posed by Beijing.

18 Jun 2026 - 10:17AMvideocam

China-EU relations

Beijing slams Czech senate president’s Taiwan trip, demands remedial action

Milos Vystrcil, who is leading a delegation from business, academic and cultural sectors, is set to meet island’s leader and other officials.

1 Jun 2026 - 8:04PMvideocam

Italy

Italy bans Kanye West concert over security concerns

Authorities scrap festival performance following pressure from local Jewish groups over rapper’s controversial history.

1 Jun 2026 - 9:58AM

Crime

Czech police recover medieval saint’s 800-year-old skull encased in concrete

The 35-year-old suspect told police he objected to the public display of human remains and had planned to throw the skull into a river.

16 May 2026 - 11:30AM

The side altar from which the skull of Saint Zdislava was stolen at St Lawrence Church in Jablonne v Podjestedi. Photo: dpa

Nepal

US climber dies in avalanche on Nepal’s Mount Makalu

Three Nepali guides and a Czech climber have died in the Himalayas so far this season.

12 May 2026 - 5:21PM

A general view of the landscape with snow-covered mountains in Nepal’s Mustang District. Nepal is home to eight of the world’s 10 highest peaks. Photo: EPA

Trip Inspiration

Discover Europe with flexible, affordable first-class Eurail adventures

Breakfast in Spain, lunch in France and dinner in Italy – with plenty of sightseeing from a comfortable seat in between. The joys of flexible, first-class train travel can be yours for the price of a Eurail pass.

3 May 2026 - 8:00AM

The Philippines

Philippine ex-lawmaker Zaldy Co’s arrest revives long-stalled corruption probe

Observers say Co’s arrest is a ‘notable step towards accountability’ and committee hearings on the flood control scandal could resume.

17 Apr 2026 - 8:30PM

The Philippines

Philippines corruption scandal suspect Zaldy Co caught in Prague, Marcos says

Efforts are under way to repatriate the ex-lawmaker, who is accused of pocketing huge kickbacks from flood-control projects.

17 Apr 2026 - 3:56PM

Fugitive Philippine lawmaker Zaldy Co (left) and President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr. Photos: AFP

China-EU relations

Exclusive | EU to cut funding for Chinese inverters amid change of tack towards Beijing

Without fanfare, Brussels will stop funding for projects that use the Chinese-made devices as part of a ‘do more, say less’ strategy.

25 Apr 2026 - 5:14AMvideocam

Hong Kong society

Blackpink’s Jennie, Art Basel, Cj Hendry: top Hong Kong events to catch in March

Residents and visitors are spoiled for choice in the last two weeks of art month, with ComplexCon and HKwalls among the offerings.

15 Mar 2026 - 3:27PM

My Take

My Take | China and the UN are not the problem in Ukraine and Palestine – the West is

Europe and America’s warmongering and genocide-enabling are at the roots of the world’s most dangerous geopolitical flashpoints.

15 Feb 2026 - 10:34PM

UN Special Rapporteur for the occupied Palestinian territories Francesca Albanese. Photo: AFP

Jimmy Lai trial

European Parliament debates moves to punish Hong Kong after Jimmy Lai conviction

Vote in European Parliament to revoke city’s special trade status and on sanctions to take place Thursday evening.

22 Jan 2026 - 1:15PM

Former media boss Jimmy Lai. Photo: Edmond So

Natural disasters

Recovery continues after 8 skiers killed in avalanches in Austria

Three avalanches across Austria on the weekend killed eight people - all during off-piste ski tours.

19 Jan 2026 - 11:05AM

China-EU relations

China’s charm offensive: Beijing bypasses Brussels to soften EU trade push

From aircraft orders in France to reopened beef and pork markets for Ireland and Spain, mainland officials are leaning hard into diplomacy.

17 Jan 2026 - 12:13PMvideocam

European Union

Trump ally Babis returns as Czech PM amid fraud trial and EU concerns

His return raises concerns that his Eurosceptic coalition could restrict aid to Ukraine.

9 Dec 2025 - 6:03PM

Leader of the Czech Republic’s ANO party Andrej Babis looks on before a TV election debate in October in Prague, Czech Republic. Photo: AFP

Obituaries

Oscar-winning UK playwright Tom Stoppard dies aged 88

His work ranges from plays like Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead to the film Shakespeare in Love, which scooped seven Academy Awards.

30 Nov 2025 - 2:14AM

British playwright Tom Stoppard arrives for the world premiere of “Anna Karenina” in London in September 2012. Photo: AP

Singapore

Singapore urges cooperation against cyber threats to protect developing nations

Minister Vivian Balakrishnan says states with fewer resources are most vulnerable to cyberattacks against their infrastructure.

23 Oct 2025 - 5:46PMvideocam

Ukraine

Czech Republic’s ‘Trumpist’ ex-PM wins election, putting Ukraine aid in doubt

Billionaire Andrej Babis’ victory could draw the country closer to EU mavericks Hungary and Slovakia, which oppose sanctions on Russia.

5 Oct 2025 - 1:14AM

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Czech Republic

Belgium battles worst wildfire on record, EU allies come to aid

Helicopters from the Czech Republic and Swedish water-bombing aircraft were due to arrive under the European Union civil protection mechanism.

This chef turns down-to-earth Cantonese recipes into luxury diasporic gastronomy

.css-1pcrwvc{color:#2aa191;}Reflections | When Chinese emperors and prime ministers fell out, the results could be deadly

Raging wildfires in France and Spain force over 200,000 to flee

Spain has declared its first national emergency for wildfires, while France is mobilising its armed forces to help with the response.

China adds 14 EU entities to export control list, hitting back at sanctions

Ministry of Commerce action follows a new round of EU sanctions on Russia that affected 14 firms from mainland China and Hong Kong.

1 dead, 4 injured in Czech army helicopter crash

The Czech army bought eight helicopters and four combat helicopters from the US in 2019.

Czech legislators ‘testing the waters’ with China visit after years of tension

A change of government in Prague late last year signalled a more pragmatic and Beijing-friendly approach.

German far-right activist sent to men’s prison despite gender change

Liebich, who was sentenced as a man, legally changed gender after Germany’s Self-Determination Act came into effect in 2024.

Norway police says 28 arrested in international child porn operation

The men, aged 22 to 54, had been arrested in Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, Canada, the Czech Republic, Poland, and Germany.

Thousands protest Czech government plan for public broadcaster funding

Critics warn shifting TV and radio funding to the state budget will dismantle media independence.

EU hits ‘make-or-break moment’ as divided leaders confront ‘China shock 2.0’

EU member states poised to confront internal divisions and launch aggressive trade defences against systemic threat posed by Beijing.

Beijing slams Czech senate president’s Taiwan trip, demands remedial action

Milos Vystrcil, who is leading a delegation from business, academic and cultural sectors, is set to meet island’s leader and other officials.

Italy bans Kanye West concert over security concerns

Authorities scrap festival performance following pressure from local Jewish groups over rapper’s controversial history.

Czech police recover medieval saint’s 800-year-old skull encased in concrete

The 35-year-old suspect told police he objected to the public display of human remains and had planned to throw the skull into a river.

US climber dies in avalanche on Nepal’s Mount Makalu

Three Nepali guides and a Czech climber have died in the Himalayas so far this season.

Discover Europe with flexible, affordable first-class Eurail adventures

Breakfast in Spain, lunch in France and dinner in Italy – with plenty of sightseeing from a comfortable seat in between. The joys of flexible, first-class train travel can be yours for the price of a Eurail pass.

Philippine ex-lawmaker Zaldy Co’s arrest revives long-stalled corruption probe

Observers say Co’s arrest is a ‘notable step towards accountability’ and committee hearings on the flood control scandal could resume.

Philippines corruption scandal suspect Zaldy Co caught in Prague, Marcos says

Efforts are under way to repatriate the ex-lawmaker, who is accused of pocketing huge kickbacks from flood-control projects.

.css-1f6sr3w{color:#727272;}Exclusive | EU to cut funding for Chinese inverters amid change of tack towards Beijing

Without fanfare, Brussels will stop funding for projects that use the Chinese-made devices as part of a ‘do more, say less’ strategy.

Blackpink’s Jennie, Art Basel, Cj Hendry: top Hong Kong events to catch in March

Residents and visitors are spoiled for choice in the last two weeks of art month, with ComplexCon and HKwalls among the offerings.

My Take | China and the UN are not the problem in Ukraine and Palestine – the West is

Europe and America’s warmongering and genocide-enabling are at the roots of the world’s most dangerous geopolitical flashpoints.

European Parliament debates moves to punish Hong Kong after Jimmy Lai conviction

Vote in European Parliament to revoke city’s special trade status and on sanctions to take place Thursday evening.

Recovery continues after 8 skiers killed in avalanches in Austria

Three avalanches across Austria on the weekend killed eight people - all during off-piste ski tours.

China’s charm offensive: Beijing bypasses Brussels to soften EU trade push

From aircraft orders in France to reopened beef and pork markets for Ireland and Spain, mainland officials are leaning hard into diplomacy.

Trump ally Babis returns as Czech PM amid fraud trial and EU concerns

His return raises concerns that his Eurosceptic coalition could restrict aid to Ukraine.

Oscar-winning UK playwright Tom Stoppard dies aged 88

His work ranges from plays like Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead to the film Shakespeare in Love, which scooped seven Academy Awards.

Singapore urges cooperation against cyber threats to protect developing nations

Minister Vivian Balakrishnan says states with fewer resources are most vulnerable to cyberattacks against their infrastructure.

Czech Republic’s ‘Trumpist’ ex-PM wins election, putting Ukraine aid in doubt

Billionaire Andrej Babis’ victory could draw the country closer to EU mavericks Hungary and Slovakia, which oppose sanctions on Russia.

Reflections | When Chinese emperors and prime ministers fell out, the results could be deadly

Exclusive | EU to cut funding for Chinese inverters amid change of tack towards Beijing