Czech hockey players have won their third consecutive medal at the 2025 World Junior Championship in Ottawa. In their final match on Sunday night, the Czech team defeated Sweden 3-2 in a shootout for the bronze medal.

Beer is the national drink of Czechia and holds the same status in Belgium. This shared cultural importance is why both countries have been at the forefront of efforts to unite European beer nations and resist efforts to classify beer as a hard alcohol, which would subject it to stricter regulations. Czechia has now also taken the lead as the head of the European Parliament's Beer Club.

A recent survey by the Czech Chamber of Commerce reveals that nearly 70% of Czech companies have yet to adopt artificial intelligence (AI) in their operations. However, over a third plan to integrate AI within the next three years, suggesting that businesses are slowly warming up to the technology.

On January 1, Ukraine halted the transit of Russian gas to Europe via its territory, following the expiration of a five-year agreement between Ukraine's Naftogaz and Russia's Gazprom. The Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico is strongly opposed to the move, whereas Czech politicians broadly welcome it and claim that it will not have an impact on the country's economy.

At the start of January, the Three Kings will again be seen in cities, towns and villages across Czechia, raising money for the Catholic charitable organisation Caritas Czech Republic and its many good causes.

In a country known for its beer tradition, the rise of non-alcoholic beer is turning heads. More Czechs are choosing alcohol-free options, driven by health concerns and changing habits, with breweries responding to the growing demand. Even in pubs, non-alcoholic beer is becoming a staple on tap.

Bells across Czechia may now get a new lease of life, thanks to a technique developed by scientists at the Czech Technical University in Prague, which uses fast-moving metal particles to repair parts cracked or worn down over time.

The Czech economy showed signs of mild recovery in 2024, but according to economist Tomáš Sedláček, this progress barely scratched the surface of deeper structural issues. Inflation fell, and unemployment remained at record lows, but Sedláček warns that without bold reforms, the country risks stagnation.

Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala (Civic Democratic Party) used his Christmas address to warn against fearmongering and the dangers of authoritarianism, calling for unity, responsibility, and perseverance. While Fiala highlighted his government’s achievements and urged citizens to resist negativity, opposition leaders dismissed the speech as overly political and lacking self-reflection.

Czechia has long struggled with one of the lowest shares of female researchers in the EU, and a recent report from the Czech Academy of Science’s Centre for Gender and Science has revealed that the country now ranks last in this regard. I discussed the key findings with the centre’s director, Marcela Linková: