Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský symbolically received a collection of art pieces from Jan Masaryk’s former London residence, on Thursday afternoon. The roughly 30 works of art were bought out at auction by one of Masaryk’s former secretaries, after his tragic death in 1948. Radio Prague International spoke to Ivan Dubovický, host of the ceremony and …

Thursday marks the fourth day Czech firefighters have been assisting in the search for missing persons in flood-devastated central Texas, near the town of Kerrville. So far, they have recovered three bodies.

Recent reports of Czech clarinetist Jaroslav Škuta being denied entry to the United States have sparked debate about harsh border controls. But his case – like several before it – shows that U.S. immigration officers are simply enforcing long-standing rules.

The Czech Senate has approved a major reform of the country’s criminal code, including a significant shift in drug policy. Key changes include looser rules on cannabis possession and home cultivation, as well as the medical legalization of so-called magic mushrooms.

Foreigners make up approximately 25% of Prague’s population, and that number is expected to increase. But is the city building fast enough to meet demand? I spoke with Zdeňka Havlová, a researcher at the Prague Institute of Planning and Development (IPR Prague), to figure out how many new units Prague needs to build to meet this demand, and more.…

The Czech Army has unexpectdly scrapped its psychological support helpline, set up during the first wave of the Covid-19 pandemic in March 2020. Soldiers in need of support are advised to turn to army psychologists instead. Critics are questioning the wisdom of the move, arguing that one of the key attributes of the helpline was that it was anonymo…

Staroměstská, the central metro station on the A line for Prague’s Old Town, will be shut for one month, to repair the damage from a fire started by a group of young men on Saturday, July 5th.

The coalition government of Prime Minister Petr Fiala on Wednesday survived a no-confidence vote in the lower house over a bitcoin scandal that has shaken the government in its foundations. Although the ruling coalition will be able to complete its full four-year term in office, many questions remain unanswered and analysts predict that the bitcoin…

The scandal of the bitcoin donation to the Ministry of Justice, worth nearly one billion Czech crowns, continues to dominate the Czech political scene. On Wednesday 18th, the centre-right government of Prime Minister Petr Fiala survived a no-confidence vote, and the prime minister now likely hopes that this will settle the matter. But has the damag…

Workers in Prague have started building tracks that will connect Vinohradská třída, near the National Museum building, with Wenceslas Square. Trams will return to the area after almost half a century. The construction work is already limiting traffic on the main line, and the restrictions will be extended in the direction of the city center from Ju…

The 20th GLOBSEC Forum, held in Prague from 12 – 14 June 2025, brought in more than 2,000 attendees representing 78 countries to discuss the geopolitical challenges of our era. While there, I spoke to former ambassador to the US, Israel, the UK, and biographer of Václav Havel, Michael Žantovský, about the current political landscape and Czechia’s r…

The Czech army will grow by several new garrisons. It plans to create a territorial defense battalion in every region within ten years, with new bases for logistics and air defense.

On June 3rd, Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský awarded the Medal for Merit in Diplomacy to sixteen people and institutions who have made a significant contribution to Czech diplomacy and foreign relations. Danny Bate was present at the ceremony, and spoke to two of the honourees.

Under fire over a bitcoin scandal that has shaken the Czech government in its foundations, Prime Minister Petr Fiala on Tuesday announced that he was calling a meeting of the National Security Council and wanted the country’s intelligence services to investigate whether the state could have been abused by the criminal underworld for money-launderin…

Czech President Petr Pavel and Prime Minister Petr Fiala extended congratulatory wishes to Karol Nawrocki on his victory in Poland’s presidential election. Pavel expressed optimism that Poland would uphold democratic principles and maintain its pro-Western orientation under Nawrocki’s leadership.

A bitcoin donation worth nearly one billion Czech crowns from a convicted criminal has thrown the Czech political scene into turmoil. Opposition parties are calling for the government's resignation, accusing the Ministry of Justice of aiding in money laundering. Political analyst Jiří Pehe warns the scandal could leave deep scars on the ruling coal…

Following an extensive investigation, the Czech government is holding China responsible for a “malicious cyber campaign” that targeted a confidential network of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Consequently, the Chinese Ambassador to Czechia was summoned to the ministry on Wednesday.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs organized the National Development Day for the second time. The public was invited to the gardens of the Czernin Palace on Friday, where information stands and key players provided information about the government's development policy projects and humanitarian aid. Along with this, Africa Day was held on the premises…

It’s been nearly 60 years since Soviet tanks rolled into Czechoslovakia. But as investigative journalist Jaroslav Spurný argues in his new book, "Vrbětice: The Attack that Changed the Czech Republic", Russia’s security services never truly left. Their tactics evolved—from military occupation to covert sabotage, money laundering, and disinformation …

In a bid to attract new recruits, the Czech Army transformed Prague's riverfront into a live demonstration of military prowess. The event featured soldiers rappelling from helicopters, armored vehicles on display, and interactive exhibits for the public.

Former Slovak president, Andrej Kiska, gave an interview to Radio Prague International during his visit to the Czech capital, in which he expressed concern about his country's future under Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico's government and about a possible Czech rapprochement with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán following this year's general …

As the Czech Republic enters the early phase of its election campaign, a new NMS Market Research poll suggests that most voters are sticking with familiar political brands. Andrej Babiš’s ANO continues to lead the field, while the nationalist Freedom and Direct Democracy party (SPD) shows a gradual upward trend. At the same time, new and smaller po…

According to a 2025 survey published by GLOBSEC, Czechia is one of the countries in central and eastern Europe where most people would defend their homeland in the event of a foreign attack. But why? I spoke with Director for Policy and Programming at GLOBSEC Dominika Hajdu to delve into this research and what it says about Czechs.…

The plan to build two new nuclear units at the Dukovany power plant in the Vysočina Region has now been stalled, as the Regional Court in Brno on Tuesday blocked the signing of the final contract with a preliminary injunction. This was done in response to a lawsuit by the French energy company EDF, who unsuccessfully bid for the tender.…

Ukrainian President Zelensky arrived in Czechia with his wife Olena on Sunday and held talks with President Petr Pavel. On Monday, he met with Prime Minister Petr Fiala, Senate President Miloš Vystrčil, Speaker Markéta Pekarová Adamová, and arms manufacturers.

The United States and Ukraine signed an agreement to create a US-Ukraine Reconstruction Investment Fund, which, according to its proponents, will move Ukraine closer to long-term peace and stability. Jakub Landovský, director of the Aspen Institute for Central Europe and former Czech ambassador to NATO, spoke to Czech Radio about aspects of the agr…

As Europe commemorates the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, another fierce conflict rages at its borders. Ukraine continues to resist Russian aggression, fighting a war that many see as pivotal for the future of European democracy. Among those defending the West’s ideals on Ukrainian soil are Czech volunteers, including Jan Trčka, a leg…

With the rise of AI, the European Union introduced regulations to standardize some rules for its use. The so-called Artificial Intelligence Act introduces significant changes for all companies and employers using AI systems across the EU. So, what does this new legislation seek to accomplish, and what is Czechia doing to implement it?…

From April 11–13, one of the largest Model UN (MUN) conferences in the Czech Republic was held in Brno. The event saw approximately 200 participants this year. While there, I spoke with one of the invited speakers, former Slovak ambassador to NATO, Peter Bátor. Acting as the former advisor to the former Slovak president Zuzana Čaputová, among other…

Over the weekend, one of the largest Model UN (MUN) conferences in the Czech Republic was held in Brno. The event saw approximately 200 participants this year, doubling in size consecutively from previous years. Typically, similar events are held in capital cities across the world; Brno is leading the charge to show that other cities can hold promi…

On April 2nd, in the White House’s Rose Garden, President Donald Trump stunned the world by announcing his new set of taxes on imports into the USA. The tariffs, which have a baseline of 10%, are designed to stimulate the country’s domestic economy, while also chastising what the White House has called the “worst offenders” – countries that have im…

Czech counterintelligence has detected a key collaborator of the Russian intelligence service GRU who had been working covertly in the Czech Republic for many years. Belarusian journalist Natalia Sudliankova has been ordered out of the country and placed on the Czech national sanctions list, together with her accomplice, GRU intelligence officer Al…

Unmanned aerial systems have become central to today's battlefields, far beyond what many European armies expected. General Roman Hyťha, Director of the Armed Forces Intelligence Division at the General Staff, says the Czech military must adapt quickly—or risk falling behind.

Czech President Petr Pavel recently visited Ukraine. While there, he said that Czechia is ready to provide troops to Ukraine in case that a full ceasefire is agreed upon between Russia and Ukraine. The president also said that it’s likely that Ukraine will have to, at least temporarily, give up Russian-occupied territories to the invaders because o…

An in-depth report on the impacts of the ongoing war in Ukraine on the mental health of soldiers and civilians has been published by three Czech researchers. One of the team, the journalist, photographer and researcher Jiří Pasz, spoke to Danny Bate about the reasons behind the study and its findings.…

Slovakia this week confirmed foot-and-mouth disease at a fourth farm in the southern parts of the country. The highly contagious disease, for which there is no cure, spread there from Hungary where it appeared several weeks ago. Strict veterinary measures are in place in Czechia, which has managed to avoid the disease for half a century.…

The Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs has launched the very first Diplomacy Week. It is a nationwide initiative designed to give students and the public a closer look at the work of Czech and international diplomats. The event is part of a broader effort to raise awareness about diplomacy, foster interest in international relations, and encourage y…

A special cloak that can make soldiers invisible to enemy drones has been hailed as a “game changer”. Invented and manufactured by Czech experts, the cloak continues to be used by special units of the Ukrainian army.

Czech President Petr Pavel is convinced that Czech troops should be part of the peacekeeping force in Ukraine after a peace agreement is reached. He said this during an interview with European Pravda, which was published on Saturday. The president also commented on the need to be pragmatic about Ukraine’s security concerns and the ways to think abo…

President Petr Pavel is on a visit to Ukraine where he is holding talks with Ukrainian officials about the situation on the battlefield and the reconstruction of the country after the war. This is the president’s second trip to Ukraine since Russia’s full-scale invasion began.

Daniel Sywala is a music journalist, broadcaster and language tutor based in Prague. He spoke to Danny Bate about his career and his efforts to champion the culture, music, food and people of former Yugoslavia, as well as discussing Czech-Serbian relations and the historic anti-corruption protests happening in Belgrade.…

Presidents Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin discussed a proposed ceasefire in Ukraine on Tuesday afternoon after which both Ukraine and Russia agreed to a 30-day pause on energy facility strikes. Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský warned that while he would like peace, it must be one that prevents Russia from being able to threaten Czechia with its imper…

The US government is halting financial support for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL), whose headquarters is based in Prague. The organization has 21 bureaus and broadcasts in 27 languages to 23 countries, promoting independent journalism. Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský is discussing whether the EU can take over and continue broadcasting…

As the security situation in Europe grows more uncertain, Czech leaders are calling for urgent steps to strengthen the country’s defenses. US support seems less certain than ever and the Old Continent may soon find that it has to fend for itself.

Top officials met at Prague Castle on Monday to discuss the foreign policy and security developments of Europe and the world. President Pavel acknowledged that Czechia desires a close alliance with the United States, but that Europe must also be prepared for a scenario in which the continent has to rely on itself.…

Property damage due to extreme weather events in Czechia has been increasing for a long time. According to the Czech Association of Insurance Companies, last year was another confirmation of this trend. Due to the autumn floods, as well as other intense storms and precipitation, covered damages reached more than CZK 36 billion. But this is not a Cz…

The heated meeting that took place last week on Friday in the Oval Office between US President Donald Trump and his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky led to increased interest in Czechia in financial aid to Ukraine.

As the US announce suspension of military aid to Ukraine, Czechia must prepare for potential escalation and increased Russian influence efforts, warns political scientist Jiří Pehe. In an interview, he outlined the key security challenges Czechia faces and the role it must play in European defense.

Prime Minister Petr Fiala has urged a boost in military aid to Ukraine in light of the European leaders' summit in London. He stated that this is the only way to prevent an aggressive Russia from advancing just a few hundred kilometers from Czechia. Fiala added that lasting peace in Europe can only be achieved through a well-armed continent, which …

Hundreds of Czech farmers joined pan-European protests against food imports from outside the European Union on Thursday. They are calling for the cancellation of the EU-Mercosur trade agreement, an end to duty-free imports from Ukraine and significant cuts in red tape.