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The Czech Chamber of Deputies voted to lift the immunity of Freedom and Democracy Party leader Tomio Okamura, allowing police to proceed with criminal charges related to the party’s controversial election posters in 2024. Mr. Okamura is suspected of inciting hatred and discrimination.
The decision followed over four hours of debate, mainly focused on freedom of speech. Mr. Okamura and his party colleagues condemned the move as political persecution. He vowed to continue fighting against the EU migration pact, which he claims the Czech government supports. The disputed posters depicted racial and social stereotypes, leading to criminal complaints and legal challenges.
Prime Minister Petr Fiala on Thursday welcomed Iraqi Prime Minister Muhammad Sudani in the garden of Prague's Straka Academy. They discussed strengthening trade relations, defence-industrial cooperation and cooperation in the security field, and Mr. Fiala stated afterwards that Iraq “belongs among Czechia’s main partners in the Middle East”. President Petr Pavel and Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies Markéta Pekarová Adamová are due to meet with Sudani later in the afternoon.
The last Iraqi prime minister's visit to the Czech Republic took place in October 2012, when Nouri Maliki met with Petr Nečas. Bohuslav Sobotka then visited Baghdad in the summer of 2017. According to the BusinessInfo.cz server, operated by the CzechTrade agency, Iraq was the fifty-fifth most important export market for Czechia in 2023. Four fifths of those exports were passenger cars. Imports from Iraq rose from almost none the year before to nearly a billion crowns, 99% of which was oil.
In a press release on Thursday, Československá obchodní banka (ČSOB), which is among the largest domestic banks in Czechia, announced that the net profit of the ČSOB Group rose by a quarter to 18.9 billion crowns last year, and the volume of assets under the banking group’s management increased by 14% to 412 billion crowns.
ČSOB's operating income increased to 45.1 billion crowns last year, 9% higher than in 2023. The total volume of loans reached 979 billion crowns. Total deposits increased to 1.37 trillion crowns. ČSOB is part of the international banking and insurance group KBC, which is active in Belgium and across Central and Eastern Europe.
Artificial intelligence tools were used by 45% of pupils in Czech secondary schools and second-level primary schools in Czechia, according to a survey conducted by the STEM analytical institute for the non-profit organisation Nekrachni, which was presented to journalists on Thursday. The AI tool used most often among them is ChatGPT, which was utilised by 89% of pupils surveyed, with Photomath in second place.
1,536 students aged 11 to 19 participated in the survey. About a third of the students involved in the survey reported that teachers discourage them from using AI or forbidding them from doing so. About 24% of the respondents had been set a task by their teachers that involved working with AI.
A slight majority of Czech consumers expect to struggle more financially this year compared to 2024, while two-fifths fear an overall economic downturn, according to a survey by Ipsos for Generali Investments CEE. However, economic optimism has grown, with 47% expecting financial improvement, a 10% rise from early 2024. Concerns over inflation have eased, while energy prices remain the top financial worry for 26% of respondents. Economist Radomír Jáč attributes rising optimism to stabilizing energy costs and falling inflation, which could boost consumer demand and support economic recovery.
The Czech biathlon team have claimed a surprising silver medal in the mixed relay at the World Championships in Lenzerheide, Switzerland. Jessica Jislová, Tereza Voborníková, Vítězslav Hornig and Michal Krčmář delivered a strong team performance, finishing behind dominant France, while Germany took bronze.
Despite the absence of Markéta Davidová, the Czech team remained competitive throughout. Krčmář secured silver in a thrilling finish, overtaking Germany’s Justus Strelow while holding off Norway’s Johannes Thingnes Bø and Sweden’s Sebastian Samuelsson. This is Czechia’s fourth world championship medal in mixed relay and the first silver. The last podium finish came in 2019 with a bronze.
Friday’s weather will be cloudy to overcast, with isolated snow showers. Highest temperatures will be between -2 and +2 °C, and -5 °C in the mountains.
A recent article in The New York Times sparked a debate about “mlíko” (milk), a traditional Czech way of serving beer, which is almost entirely made of foam. A Czech bartender explains what it is and whether he recommends it.
Russia’s Prosecutor General’s Office has requested the extradition of former Russian state television anchor Farida Kurbangaleeva from the Czech Republic. The journalist has been in exile since 2014, when she left Russia and her job at the state-controlled Rossiya 1 TV channel in protest of the annexation of Crimea and the war in eastern Ukraine.
Tucked away in the southwestern part of Prague, Prokopské údolí, or Prokop Valley, is a remarkable blend of history, geology, and nature. This protected landscape, part of the Czech Karst, offers visitors a chance to step away from the city’s busy streets and immerse themselves in a peaceful, rugged environment shaped over millions of years.
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