The fate of Štiřín Chateau, a Baroque estate near Prague, which hosted presidents and cabinet ministers, remains uncertain. The Czech state has failed to find a buyer for it, despite repeated attempts to sell the property and a dramatic reduction in its asking price.

Experts are ringing alarm bells. The number of deaths related to kratom use is on the rise in Czechia as is the number of emergency calls to minors who collapse after using it. The prime minister has ordered the creation of an interministerial working group to address the problem.

The Czech skiing and snowboarding legend Ester Ledecká has announced she is looking for a new coach. The three-time Olympic champion says she still has one big dream to fulfil.

The Prague-based United Islands festival returns to the Czech capital with over 100 artists from 20 countries, blending new talent with established names. Alongside concerts, this year’s edition expands its non-music program with multiple debates and a film screening.

Czechia performs strongly in the Prosperity Index, a composite ranking combining economic output, inequality and selected social indicators. But according to sociologist Daniel Prokop from PAQ Research, the index is limited in scope and heavily shaped by how indicators are chosen. A closer look, he says, reveals a more complex picture of the country’s real standing.

Defense spending is back in the spotlight after NATO confirmed that the Czech Republic would fail to meet the set 2 % defense spending target in 2026. This will place the country among the problem members not pulling their weight in collective defense at a time of growing need.

Jewelry, weapons, manuscripts and the story of a dynasty that shaped not only Czech history – the National Museum in Prague opens what organisers describe as its biggest exhibition of the year titled The Přemyslids – A Ruling Dynasty and Its Age.

This week saw the 100th anniversary of the birth of Elizabeth II – and the launch of the Czech version of A Voyage Around the Queen, in which author Craig Brown looks at the late monarch from a multitude of perspectives. The book was translated by Michael Žantovský, a one-time Czech ambassador to London who spent time with the long-serving royal on several occasions. I spoke to him at the book’s launch at the British Embassy in Prague.

London-born Benjamin Souček renovates stately homes in Czechia, the country of his forefathers. Indeed, Souček – who is also active in Prague cricket circles – has even received an award at the Czech Senate for his contribution to the country’s cultural heritage.

The Czech government’s proposed law on public service media, which would change the funding model of Czech Television and Czech Radio, has become one of the most debated issues in the country. The shift from licence fees to state budget financing is being criticised by both the opposition and the heads of the two institutions. At the core of the criticism are concerns over a potential loss of independence.