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President Petr Pavel became the first head of state to visit the Veterinary University in Brno on Tuesday in over a century. During his visit, he toured the simulation center featuring dog models. He also entered the campus through the same door used by the first Czechoslovak president, Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk, in 1924. According to Rector Alois Nečas, no Czechoslovak or Czech president has visited the university since that time.
The number of individuals accused in the Motol Teaching Hospital corruption case has increased to 17, according to the National Police Headquarters for Organized Crime. The police also stated that they would provide details on the exact number of people detained once the criminal proceedings are completed. On Monday, authorities revealed that 16 individuals had been charged with bribery, subsidy fraud, damage to EU financial interests, and money laundering, including the hospital’s director, Miloslav Ludvik.
The European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) is overseeing the corruption case tied to the reconstruction of Motol’s "Blue Pavilion." Authorities confirmed the ongoing investigation but offered no further details. Motol, Czechia's largest hospital, treats over a million patients each year. Ludvik has led the institution since 2000, except for a brief stint as health minister.
Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský is visiting Israel on Wednesday and Thursday, where he is scheduled to meet with President Yitzhak Herzog, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and other officials. He will also inaugurate the activities of the NATO Liaison Embassy, a role the Czech Embassy in Israel has been carrying out since early February.
A February survey by NMS Market Research found that Czechs trust Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky more than Russian President Vladimir Putin, while Slovaks have more trust in Putin. However, the majority of both Czechs and Slovaks do not trust either leader. Russia began its full-scale invasion of Ukraine three years ago, and the war is still ongoing. The latest UN figures report at least 13,300 civilian deaths in Ukraine since 2022.
The cable car to Petřín will be reconstructed by Metrostav DIZ for approximately CZK 134 million, the Prague Transport Company announced on its website. The reconstruction should take a year, and another five to six months will be spent on the installation of the transport system and its testing, the company said. The first passengers could ride the new cable car, designed by Anna Marešová, in the third quarter of 2026. The cable car has been out of service since last September, when heavy rains damaged the line. It was not repaired in view of the planned reconstruction. The cable car has been in operation since 1891 and its current form dates back to the mid-1980s.
Eighteen senators who opposed the controversial treaty between Czechia and the Holy See are planning to file a complaint against it to the Constitutional Court. Senator Václav Láska from SEN 21 said the complaint will be filed if and when the treaty is ratified by the Chamber of Deputies, which is expected to vote on the document in March. According to many lawyers, the treaty is unbalanced in favour of the Papal See. They argue that its provisions on confessional secrecy could obstruct justice and shield abusers by extending secrecy to "pastoral workers," who can be designated by the Church without clear criteria. The document has been criticized by victims of sexual abuse.
The treaty, which was 20 years in the making, has already been approved by the government, signed by Prime Minister Petr Fiala and ratified by the Senate.
This February has been exceptionally dry in Czechia, with only about a quarter of the typical precipitation recorded so far. The forecast for the coming days offers little hope for rain or snow. Meteorologists predict that this February will be one of the driest in recent decades, possibly the driest since 1961, when nationwide data became available.
Wednesday should be mostly overcast with local rain. Temperatures will range between 4 °C to 10 °C.
The international order is undergoing its biggest change since the fall of communism and Europe must respond to it fast, Prime Minister Petr Fiala said in an address to the nation on Monday. He said Europe must pull together and put “both money and weapons on the table” in defense of its values.
The Prague-based, American-born writer, poet and columnist Michael March died on February 23rd. His death was announced by his wife Vlasta. Mr. March had lived in Prague since 1996, and was the founder and president of the international Prague Writers' Festival, responsible for bringing many big names in the literary world to the Czech capital.
UK businessman Guy Barker is behind a project set to bring a new terrace to the roof of Prague’s 19th century Rudolfinum. His Arcona Capital, a real estate investment company active in a number of EU countries, is a sponsor of the Czech Philharmonic, which calls the magnificent building home. When we met at Arcona Capital’s offices, Mr. Barker also discussed a notable development it is involved with in Kyiv – and what led him to move to Prague.
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