Current Affairs | All stories

Prague-based Czech NGO People in Need this week announced the start of a new charity campaign aimed at raising funds for development assistance overseas. The fund will be used to help development in some of the world's poorest countries and the scheme aims to get Czechs to donate on a regular basis, not just when a head-line making crisis strikes.

The Czech Republic’s official road to adopting the Euro is a long and winding one. While politicians argue over the pros and cons of embracing the pan-European currency, it seems that Czech businesses, motivated by an increasingly strong crown have already made up their minds. Battling against an increasingly strong crown, many companies that export beyond the country’s borders are instead choosing to do their business in Euros. The reasoning is simple – countries importing Czech goods, are assured a better deal with a weaker currency like the

Customs officers have had their hands full cracking down on the smuggling of counterfeit medicines into the Czech Republic: on Tuesday, officials destroyed one tonne at an industrial furnace near Prague. Many of the items were fake-brand Viagra and also anabolic steroids, sent through the post. The destroyed items represent many thousands of crowns in illegal profits.

Lenka Šmídová became the first Czech ever to win an Olympic medal in sailing, taking a silver medal in Athens four years ago. This time around, however, even qualifying to compete in the Olympic Games in Beijing has been tough. A change of category and numerous combinations of sailing partners along the way have meant her route to the games in China has been less than straightforward. I spoke to Lenka Šmídová at the Czech Yacht Club in Prague as she prepares to leave for China later this month.

Czech Muslims are celebrating the 10th anniversary of the first mosque ever built in the Czech Republic which opened in 1998 in the city of Brno. While ten years ago, the Islamic Foundation in Brno had to face protests and their mosque had to do without a minaret, today the community is thriving and even planning to build a new, greater mosque in the Moravian capital.

Prague City Hall has taken its toughest measures yet to clamp down on the capital’s litter problem. As of this Tuesday, those caught dropping litter could face a fine of up to 30,000 crowns (nearly 2,000 USD).

Statistics suggest that the number of asthma-sufferers among children in the Czech Republic has doubled over the past ten years. Every seventh Czech child currently suffers from breathing problems related to asthma and specialists say the number will most likely keep growing in the coming years.

France took up the rotating EU presidency on Tuesday amidst increasing concerns over the fate of the Lisbon Treaty. Polish President Lech Kaczynski unexpectedly announced he would not sign the treaty following its rejection by Ireland and there is concern over the stands of Germany and the Czech Republic where lawmakers have asked their constitutional courts to review the document, delaying its ratification. President Sarkozy pulled out the big guns on Monday night, saying that France would make the treaty’s ratification its top priority and dealing

Tuesday saw the visit of Andrew Cahn, the Chief Executive of UK Trade and Investment to Prague. The visit comes amidst increasing economic co-operation between Britain and the Czech Republic. Dominik Jun met Mr Cahn whilst he was conducting a tour of the reconstruction of Charles Bridge – itself a project contracted out to a British firm. He began by asking Mr Cahn to explain the work of UK Trade and Investment and the reasons for his visit here.

The first-ever gay parade in the Czech Republic took to the streets of Brno on Saturday, despite threats by neo-Nazi and other extremist groups. Even a heavy police presence at the march failed to prevent attacks by anti-gay protesters who shouted insults and even threw tear gas at marching gay rights activists.