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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 portrait of Song dynasty founder Zhao Kuangyin, who died suddenly in 976 while alone with the brother who succeeded him. The cause of his death has remained shrouded in mystery ever since. Photo: Historical Painting

Lessons from China's history

Reflections | The Chinese emperor whose sudden death sparked a 1,000-year-old mystery

Was Song dynasty founder Zhao Kuangyin’s sudden death the doing of the brother who succeeded him, like Czech St Wenceslas 40 years earlier?

10 Oct 2026 - 8:15AM

Travel

9 film locations to visit in Prague, from Blade Runner 2099 to Amadeus

14 Sep 2026 - 6:15PM

European Union

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

16 Aug 2026 - 6:09PM

Food and Drinks

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

Eva Che draws on her Chinese heritage and luxury experience for her catering brand whose clients have included Saint Laurent and Adidas.

31 Jul 2026 - 7:01PM

Lessons from China's history

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

Imperial China relied on officials to run government affairs under the emperor, but as history shows, this power dynamic was a fragile one.

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

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

The flags of the European Union and China in Berlin. Photo: Photothek via Getty Images

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

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

Marla-Svenja Liebich, a convicted German far-right extremist formerly known as Sven Liebich, is escorted by Czech prison service to the regional court on May 18. Photo: AFP

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

A visual representation of digital cryptocurrencies, including Monero. The arrested men had used the cryptocurrency Monero to pay for access to several forums on the dark web. Photo: Getty Images

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’

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

Milos Vystrcil, president of the Czech senate, has said his trip aims to boost understanding and cooperation at the political and people-to-people levels. Photo: Handout

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

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Czech Republic

.css-1pcrwvc{color:#2aa191;}Reflections | The Chinese emperor whose sudden death sparked a 1,000-year-old mystery

Was Song dynasty founder Zhao Kuangyin’s sudden death the doing of the brother who succeeded him, like Czech St Wenceslas 40 years earlier?

9 film locations to visit in Prague, from Blade Runner 2099 to Amadeus

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

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

Eva Che draws on her Chinese heritage and luxury experience for her catering brand whose clients have included Saint Laurent and Adidas.

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

Imperial China relied on officials to run government affairs under the emperor, but as history shows, this power dynamic was a fragile one.

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.

Reflections | The Chinese emperor whose sudden death sparked a 1,000-year-old mystery

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