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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

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

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

China-EU relations

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

18 Jun 2026 - 10:17AMvideocam

China-EU relations

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

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

Kanye West after arriving at Shanghai Pudong International Airport in 2025. Photo: AFP

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

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

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

An ICE train crosses a viaduct in Baden-Württemberg, a state in southwest Germany bordering France and Switzerland. Photo: Getty Images

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

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

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. Photo: Reuters

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

Blackpink’s Jennie will perform at the coming ComplexCon in Hong Kong. Photo: Getty Images

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

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

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

Rescuers search for people after an avalanche in the Salzburg Pongau region of western Austria on Saturday. Photo: Bergrettung Pongau via AP

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

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

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

An illustration of a cyberattack on a computer screen. Speakers at the Singapore International Cyber Week on Thursday say there has been a rise in state-sponsored cyberattacks in recent years. Photo: Shutterstock

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

China-EU relations

Flagging imbalances in China, EU chamber urges course correction in 5-year plan

Exhorting the need for a ‘new, productive development model’, latest chamber position paper airs members’ grievances.

17 Sep 2025 - 5:01PMvideocam

China's military weapons

Western leaders parse China military parade displaying national pride

US President Donald Trump says America deserves more credit for helping China gain its freedom.

4 Sep 2025 - 10:45PMvideocam

Military personnel take part in a parade in Beijing on Wednesday to commemorate the 80th anniversary of Japan’s World War II surrender. Photo: AP

China-Japan relations

After The War | Love, hate and the post-war paradox of China-Japan relations

A popular film about the Nanking massacre marks the latest fraught chapter between countries that view each other with suspicion and affinity.

29 Aug 2025 - 11:20AMvideocam

China-EU relations

Why EU stance on Taiwan is a growing cause of concern for mainland China

Taiwan remains a red line for Beijing, but island’s informal EU ties are prompting worries that the bloc may backslide on one-China policy.

15 Aug 2025 - 11:00PMvideocam

China economy

China retail slowdown, Trump-Putin summit, Wang Yi visits India

This week: Weak retail sales stoke China economy concerns; Trump and Putin prepare for Alaska talks; US and China extend tariff truce by three months. Next week: Wang Yi visits India and Pakistan; Xiaomi posts earnings; Ronaldo may play in Hong Kong, and more.

15 Aug 2025 - 5:28PM

SCMP Highlights

Chinese families in ‘broken houses’; PLA’s warning: SCMP daily highlights

From China sanctioning two European banks to a Chinese-owned aircraft detained in Russia, here’s a round-up from today’s coverage.

13 Aug 2025 - 9:15PM

A file picture of the guided-missile destroyer USS Higgins, which has entered the South China Sea, according to the PLA Southern Theatre Command. Photo: Getty Images

Diplomacy

China cuts ties with Czech president over his birthday visit to Dalai Lama

Beijing says it ‘lodged serious protests with the Czech side’ after Pavel left Japan to make private trip to see exiled spiritual leader.

13 Aug 2025 - 10:39PMvideocam

China says it is cutting ties with Czech President Petr Pavel after he met the Dalai Lama on July 27 in Leh, Ladakh, India, as part of the exiled spiritual leader’s 90th birthday celebrations. Photo: Dalai Lama/Facebook

European Union

Europe’s ‘out of control’ wildfires hit tourism spots, forests

Europe battles record wildfires as a heatwave scorches Spain, Portugal, Greece, and Turkey, threatening towns, tourism, and ecosystems.

12 Aug 2025 - 9:03PM

China-EU relations

Slovak PM Fico to attend China’s WWII event amid EU tensions

Central European leader is first from the European bloc and Nato to confirm plans to be in Beijing for 80th anniversary commemoration.

4 Aug 2025 - 6:12PMvideocam

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Czech Republic

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’

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

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.

.css-1pcrwvc{color:#2aa191;}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.

Flagging imbalances in China, EU chamber urges course correction in 5-year plan

Exhorting the need for a ‘new, productive development model’, latest chamber position paper airs members’ grievances.

Western leaders parse China military parade displaying national pride

US President Donald Trump says America deserves more credit for helping China gain its freedom.

After The War | Love, hate and the post-war paradox of China-Japan relations

A popular film about the Nanking massacre marks the latest fraught chapter between countries that view each other with suspicion and affinity.

Why EU stance on Taiwan is a growing cause of concern for mainland China

Taiwan remains a red line for Beijing, but island’s informal EU ties are prompting worries that the bloc may backslide on one-China policy.

China retail slowdown, Trump-Putin summit, Wang Yi visits India

This week: Weak retail sales stoke China economy concerns; Trump and Putin prepare for Alaska talks; US and China extend tariff truce by three months. Next week: Wang Yi visits India and Pakistan; Xiaomi posts earnings; Ronaldo may play in Hong Kong, and more.

Chinese families in ‘broken houses’; PLA’s warning: SCMP daily highlights

From China sanctioning two European banks to a Chinese-owned aircraft detained in Russia, here’s a round-up from today’s coverage.

China cuts ties with Czech president over his birthday visit to Dalai Lama

Beijing says it ‘lodged serious protests with the Czech side’ after Pavel left Japan to make private trip to see exiled spiritual leader.

Europe’s ‘out of control’ wildfires hit tourism spots, forests

Europe battles record wildfires as a heatwave scorches Spain, Portugal, Greece, and Turkey, threatening towns, tourism, and ecosystems.

Slovak PM Fico to attend China’s WWII event amid EU tensions

Central European leader is first from the European bloc and Nato to confirm plans to be in Beijing for 80th anniversary commemoration.

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

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