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The Czech government plans to cut the old-age pensions of senior communist-era secret police officers. While the idea is welcomed by some, calls have also been made to do more for the victims of the former regime, many of whom are on very low pensions.

Further confirmation that prices in the Czech Republic are rocketing came with the news on Monday that inflation reached 9.9 percent in January, following the sharpest month-on-month jump ever seen in the country. I discussed the inflation situation with Lukáš Kovanda, chief economist with Trinity Bank, who said there were multiple causes.

In view of the escalating threat of a Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs has withdrawn its diplomats’ families from the country. While the embassy in Kyiv continues to operate for the time being, the ministry has also called on other Czech citizens to leave the country if possible.

Ivo Kahánek is one of the most successful Czech pianists of his generation, performing with top domestic orchestras and regularly appearing at some of the world’s top classical venues. Last year the 42-year-old won acclaim for the mammoth Dvořák: Complete Piano Works. We recently discussed that unprecedented collection, piano students’ fear of ending up teachers and much, much more.

On the occasion of World Radio Day, Radio Prague International is updating its signature jingle.

A team of three artists from Liberec have painted a unique picture with which they hope to support the North Bohemian city’s efforts to be selected as the European City of Culture in 2028. The 3x2.2m art piece was the result of a non-stop 124 hour painting process during which the team received ideas from onlookers.

Martina Sáblíková has secured another medal for the Czech Republic at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics. On Thursday, the Czech speed skating sensation won the bronze in the women’s 5,000 meter race. It is already the seventh Olympic medal for Sáblíková from four consecutive Winter Games.

This February marks one hundred years since the invention of polarography, a pioneering method analysing substances in solutions, developed by Czech chemist Jaroslav Heyrovský. More than thirty years after his discovery, he was awarded the Nobel Prize, becoming the first Czech to receive the honour.

From this Thursday, people in the Czech Republic no longer have to provide a vaccine certificate or a certificate of having recovered from Covid-19 in order to enter restaurants, hotels, mass events or various types of services. The measure was cancelled by the government following last week’s ruling by the Supreme Administrative Court.

Caritas Czech Republic, the biggest non-governmental provider of social and health services in the country, also has humanitarian aid projects in many countries of the world. With help from the Czech Development Agency, it built and equipped the first screening center in Zugdidi, Georgia. I spoke to Jan Blinka of Caritas CR about why they chose Georgia and how the center has been helping to raise awareness of screening and prevention in a country where cancer still carries a big stigma.