Europe Czech Republic The world-famous Czech writer Milan Kundera, author of The Unbearable Lightness of Being, passed away on 11 July in Paris at the age of 94; in April, he had transferred his personal archive of 4000 books and 25 boxes of notes to Moravian Library in Brno
Europe Czech Republic Facilitating marriage for same-sex couples has been debated by Parliament, which approved 2 contradictory drafts: one envisages enactment of marriage for same-sex couples, the other enshrines protection of marriage as a union between a man and a woman
Europe Czech Republic The country wants to introduce a reduced 12% VAT on recycled products as part of a tax package to consolidate public finances
Europe Czech Republic An unusual pair of white storks, consisting of two females, nested on a chimney in southern Bohemia, taking turns caring for the two chicks; according to ornithologists, this is the first recorded case of a same-sex pair among white storks
Europe Czech Republic 246 CV90 combat vehicles will be purchased from Sweden's BAE Systems Hägglunds of Örnsköldsvik in a SEK 22 billion (€2 billion) deal; for the country, this is the largest military purchase in its modern history
Europe Czech Republic 9 resolutions from the era of socialist Czechoslovakia, which enabled Russian diplomats to use the country's land free of charge, have been annulled by the government
Europe Czech Republic Prague City Hall has commissioned a new copy of the calendar of the Old Town Square astronomical clock to replace 2018 version, which came under heavy criticism because the artist modified some elements of Mánes 1866 original to give it a more modern look
Europe Czech Republic Czech, Finnish and Hungarian authorities dismantled a criminal network suspected of leading an international prostitution ring in which many victims and perpetrators were allegedly from the country
Europe Czech Republic According to statistics from Dotykačka, while cafés and bistros have seen a significant increase in sales, the typical Czech pub is shrinking
Europe Czech Republic A widespread screening programme for osteoporosis, which aims to reach 800.000 people, has been launched this month by the General Health Insurance Company as the condition has become a serious problem due to a lack of prevention
Europe Czech Republic Prague is one of the hottest housing markets in Europe, with property prices skyrocketing, leading to higher rents; the housing crisis is highlighted in an exhibition at the Centre for Architecture and Metropolitan Planning
Europe Czech Republic Czech scouts have been making special candles for Ukrainian soldiers and civilians to be used in the trenches and during power cuts
Europe Czech Republic Kateřina Siniaková and Barbora Krejčíková have won the women’s doubles title at tennis’s WTA Tour 1000 tournament in Indian Wells