NATO has increased recruitment in response to global threats, including Russia’s actions in Crimea and Ukraine. In order to attract more candidates from Czechia, which ranks 22nd in representation of employees among NATO members, a NATO career workshop was held at the Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs. I went there to interview Assistant Secretary General for Executive Management Carlo Borghini to find out more about the application process, how applicants can make themselves more attractive, and more.

Main Czech opposition leader Andrej Babiš says he has been cleared and has never worked for communist secret police. Not true! Says PM Petr Fiala.

The Czech government's austerity policies under Prime Minister Petr Fiala are shaped by both economic necessity and political ideology. Rising inflation, stagnating wages, and a housing crisis have fueled public dissatisfaction, while the deficit continues to grow without significant investments in long-term economic growth. I spoke with Klára Votavová, research fellow at the Europeum Institute of Foreign Policy, to understand the impact of these austerity measures and what to expect from the upcoming budget debate, which is currently taking place in the Chamber of Deputies.

At the opening of an exhibition marking 20 years since the abolition of compulsory military service in the Czech lands, Chief of the General Staff Karel Řehka admitted that the military is struggling to meet its recruitment goals. He said radical action is needed to be taken since the army was becoming uncompetitive on the labour market.

Political analyst Jiří Pehe says 2024 is the year when the traditional Czech Social Democratic Party came to an end.

The Czech Senate has passed new limits on the sale of weaker psychomodulatory substances, including kratom and hexahydrocannabinol (HHC). If signed into law by the president, the substances will only be available to buy by adults and in specific stores from December.

As the inhabitants of Jeseník, one of the towns hardest hit by the September floods, scramble to get their homes in order ahead of the winter, many are mulling their future and considering moving to safer locations. In an effort to prevent depopulation and open the way to more effective flood mitigation measures, the agriculture minister has said the state will offer people from the flood zones in the Jeseníky region an exchange of land.

A three-day strike will affect most Czech courts starting Monday, with up to two-thirds of regional court employees expected to participate. However, the Constitutional Court will not take part, and judges, who are legally prohibited from striking, are not directly affected.

The European Commission has initiated infringement proceedings against Czechia for discrimination of Roma children placed in special and substandard schools.

Inflation, man-made climate change, wars, and other global events have an understandable impact on people's mental health. What is the situation like in Czechia and what are Czechs most concerned about? A new study from PAQ Research has some of the answers.