Radio Prague International - latest articles

With the post-Brexit transition period due to end in less than two weeks’ time, what does the situation look like for the thousands of Czechs living and working in Britain, particularly the large Czech Roma community? Do most of them plan to stay in the UK? And will they manage to apply for settled status in time?

Archaeologists working in the Milevsko monastery in South Bohemia say they have discovered part of a nail which allegedly comes from the so-called True Cross, on which Jesus Christ was crucified. The find is one of the rarest Christian relics, comparable to the reliquary of St. Maurus in its significance and rarity.

Evangelical priest Svatopluk Karásek, a key figure of the Czech underground, has died at the age of 78. The former dissident, musician and Charter 77 signatory was persecuted by the Communist regime and spent part of his life in exile with his wife and children.

The Czech Republic has joined other countries around the world in suspending flights from the UK following the detection there of a more infectious variant of the coronavirus. A negative test will not suffice for those who do manage to make it from the UK – they must enter quarantine, says Prague.

Christmas is traditionally a time to spend with families and friends, and also singing Christmas carols. However, due to the global Covid-19 outbreak, many people won’t be able to meet with their loved ones this year. To celebrate the festive season, Czech expats from the music ensemble Melimelo in Luxembourg came up with an idea to virtually connect with other Czechs living abroad. In short videos shared online, we can see where they live and how they maintain Czech Christmas traditions. In today’s edition of Sunday Music Show, you can listen to Christmas carols, recorded by children from Czech communities living abroad.

The Czech Republic’s national Covid-19 risk index has climbed to the highest level on the government’s tiered system of restrictions. However, the methodology for establishing what measures should be taken is set to change in the coming weeks, officials have said.

The holiday season just got a little merrier in Poniklá, a village nestled in the foothills of the Krkonoše Mountains. The traditional blown-glass and beaded Christmas decorations that it is famous for has just been added to UNESCO’s celebrated list of Intangible Cultural Heritage.

Museums and galleries in the Czech Republic will have to close on Friday as the country tightens its coronavirus restrictions. However, three major exhibitions, showcasing unique loans from abroad, have been given an exemption by the Ministry of Culture. The decision has evoked sharp reactions from other gallerists, who call it unfair.

Hockey legend Jaromír Jágr returned to the ice on Wednesday evening in his first game for Kladno in the best part of a year. Remarkably Jágr is now nearly 49 years old and played his first top level game more than 32 years ago.

There is a small Greek minority in the Czech Republic. People from this Southern European country did not come primarily to seek jobs or improve their economic outlook. They were driven here because they believed that communism was a better form of government than capitalism.