Czech news in brief for April 10: Thursday's top headlines

The Prague Stock Exchange closed above 2,000 points for the first time in a week, rising 3.54 percent to 2,002.83 points following U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariff postponement announcement on Thursday. Banks led the gains, with Erste Bank up 5.45 percent. Market activity was high, reaching CZK 1.67 billion in volume. The crown strengthened against both the dollar and euro. Analysts remain cautious about the longevity of the market relief.

Czech opposition leader Andrej Babiš defended U.S. President Donald Trump while criticizing his tariff policy, during an interview on CNN Prima NewsTV. Trump recently reduced tariffs to 10 percent for 90 days, excluding China. Babiš and other Czech politicians welcomed the decision. However, Deputy Chairman Karel Havlíček called the Czech government's approach to export support inadequate and urged more practical steps to help companies facing challenges like high energy costs and labor shortages.

The Prosecutor General's Office (NSZ) will open a new workplace in Prague to attract top legal talent and improve coordination, officials said Thursday. The office, based in Brno since 1994, aims to ease recruitment by reducing long commutes. New Prosecutor General Lenka Bradáčová cited operational efficiency and closer ties with police and government agencies, most of which are headquartered in the capital, as key reasons for the move. According to the NSZ, the aim of creating a special office in Prague is to attract experienced experts from across the country.

Czech soldiers are expected to remain deployed in Bosnia and Herzegovina through April amid rising regional tensions, the Defense Ministry said Wednesday. The 150 troops, part of the EUFOR Althea mission, were initially sent in March as a preventive measure. Parliament approved the mission last year, allowing up to 200 soldiers. Czech, Italian, and Romanian forces aim to support peace under the 1995 Dayton Agreement. Tensions within the Balkan confederation rose after the February conviction of Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik.

Czechia’s population increased by approximately 8,900 in 2024 to 10.91 million, the highest since the end of World War II, according to the Czech Statistical Office. The growth was driven solely by foreign migration, as births fell to a record low of 84,311. Deaths outpaced births by nearly 28,000. Marriages declined for a second year, while divorces increased to 20,800. The number of inhabitants in Prague increased by 13,148 last year to about 1.4 million at the end of December 2024.

Economist David Marek has ended his role as an economic adviser to Czech President Petr Pavel after two years, he announced Wednesday on X. Marek, chief economist at Deloitte Czech Republic, said he will focus on corporate clients. A key figure in Pavel’s campaign, Marek left the government’s economic council in 2024 over budget disagreements and later criticized the 2025 state budget signed by Pavel. Marek said the objections raised against the draft had not been clarified.

According to a study by BCG and Aspen Institute CE, generative AI will impact over 40 percent of jobs in Czechia within a decade, affecting 2.3 million workers—mostly in skilled professions. About 600,000 roles will require significant retraining. While 955,000 new jobs may emerge by 2035, 355,000 could vanish. A worker skills gap is expected to persist despite economic growth and labor market adaptation.

Czech Industry Minister Lukáš Vlček said Prague supports the EU’s unified response to U.S. tariffs but emphasized that a negotiated deal remains the best outcome. The EU will impose retaliatory duties on U.S. exports starting April 15. While the direct impact on Czechia is expected to be limited, officials warn of indirect effects via supply chains and potential market disruptions from an influx of cheap goods.

Czech police are investigating a robbery in Prague 8 involving the theft of more than CZK 100 million, according to Novinky.cz. A black BMW with foreign plates believed linked to the case, was seized near U Invalidovny. Details remain undisclosed as homicide detectives assist with the probe. No arrests have been confirmed in what authorities are calling an exceptionally serious crime.

Cloudy to partly cloudy skies are expected across Czechia this weekend, with daytime highs reaching up to 21°C, according to the Czech Hydrometeorological Institute. Occasional light rain is possible, especially in the northeast. After recent frosty nights, temperatures will gradually rise, remaining above freezing overnight. Early next week, highs of 22°C may be seen before a potential cooldown to around 15°C later in the week.

More than 17,000 dogs from 72 countries will compete at the European Dog Show in Brno from Thursday to Sunday, organizers said. The event features 313 breeds, with dachshunds the most represented. Rare breeds, including Indonesia’s Kintamani-Bali Dog, will also appear. The Czech Republic, a top dog-owning nation, will crown the Best in Show on Sunday evening.