Current Affairs | All stories

Czech conductor Jakub Hrůša has made a dream come true after being been appointed one of the two principal guest conductors at the London Philharmonia Orchestra. Hrůša, along with Santtu-Matias Rouvali from Finland, will take up their shared roles at the start of the upcoming season. They will be the first conductors to hold the post since the death of Sir Charles Mackerras in 2010.

The Czech National Bank has reaffirmed that its currency intervention policy, launched in 2013 to keep a strong crown in check against the euro and to prevent deflation, is to continue for now – but will likely be phased out by the middle of this year. However, widespread uncertainly now exists over precisely when the interventions will end, with some speculating this could happen as soon as next week. Jan Bureš is chief economist at Patria Finance. I asked for his take on the central bank’s decision:

When the Christian Democratic Party and Mayors and Independents confirmed their intention to enter into a coalition for the autumn general elections it was hailed by many as an ambitious project reflecting a trait that is sadly lacking in Czech politics: willingness to cooperate. However a poll indicating that the coalition may not get enough votes to get seats in the lower house of Parliament has dashed the initial optimism, with some Christian Democrats now wanting out. I asked political scientist Vladimíra Dvořáková how much of a risk the two

Czech politicians have been reacting to the formal move made by the United Kingdom on Wednesday to invoke Article 50 of the Treaty of Lisbon and thus leave the European Union within two years. Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka has pledged to take an active role in the Brexit talks so as to safeguard Czech jobs and the rights of Czech expats in Britain.

The Czech Republic and Slovakia will unite next year to celebrate two major anniversaries: 100 years since the foundation of Czechoslovakia and the 50th anniversary of the 1968 Prague Spring and its subsequent crushing by Soviet-led forces. The celebrations are set to be bigger than ever, with nearly 200 events scheduled to take place over the course of the year.

Jiří Drahoš‏, a former head of the Academy of Sciences, has become the latest candidate to throw his hat into the ring for the post of Czech president. But what are the chances of the scientist beating the incumbent Miloš Zeman and the other contenders in next year’s presidential elections?

Britain on Wednesday started the clock running on what are likely to be high octane, and probably strained, negotiations to quit the European Union within two years. The so-called Article 50 letter announcing the official intention to quit was delivered in Brussels to the president of the European Council, Donald Tusk.

Tomáš Rosický, once regarded as one of Europe’s most promising young footballers, has just undergone Achilles tendon surgery in the latest in a long series of injury setbacks. Now 36, Rosický says he hopes to return for Sparta Prague next season. However, the former Dortmund and Arsenal midfielder has spent less than 20 minutes on the pitch since returning to his boyhood club last year. I asked football journalist Michal Petrák whether he believed Rosický would ever play again.

A new study conducted by polling firm CVVM in conjunction with Masaryk University has found a large decline in trust in the media from the Czech population. From roughly two-thirds trust in the media a decade ago, the data shows that today the number is reversed, with two-thirds distrusting the media. I spoke with independent journalist and former dissident Jan Urban, and began by asking him for his take on the decline:

Czech Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka has affirmed his county’s support for the EU integration project as European leaders met in Rome over the weekend marking the 60th anniversary of the Treaty of Rome.