CZOwnership & classification
Founded: 2005
Ownership
Aktuálně.cz is a Czech online news server launched in 2005 and published by the media house Economia. Economia was acquired in 2008 by Czech coal-and-finance billionaire Zdeněk Bakala from Germany's Handelsblatt Media Group, and he remains its owner. Alongside Aktuálně.cz, Economia publishes the business daily Hospodářské noviny, the weekly Respekt and the video platform DVTV.
Funding
It is financed commercially through online advertising and digital subscriptions within Economia's paid-content ecosystem, backed by Bakala's private capital. There is no state or party financing.
Affiliation & stance
It carries a center-left, liberal editorial profile and a strong investigative tradition, positioning itself against populist political forces. Because it is privately and commercially owned by an entrepreneur with no party or government control, it is classified as INDEPENDENT; lean center-left.
Editorial lean
- Our estimate
- Lean Left
- Measured from coverage
- Centerbased on 368
83/100
Factual
76/100
Objective
714
Articles
714
reports
Top stories
Most covered right now
World Cup round-up: Messi breaks scoring record, Algeria survive, but Jordan are eliminated
Morocco won the world's respect after eliminating the Netherlands
UN: Israel continues to commit genocide by targeting children in Gaza
Haaland with the late winning goal: Norway prevails
The death toll from last week's earthquake in Venezuela has risen to 2,295.
The Prague city council has removed Prokop from the supervisory board of the transport company.
There are no reserves, the budget decline will be more drastic
The ODS loses to the Old Ones, the SPD is weakened, the Pirates and the Motorists have jumped
Putin strengthens his own security
Recent coverage
An American gets the maximum amount of recovery time at Wimbledon.
The article discusses the scheduling of the first-round doubles match at Wimbledon involving American tennis player Serena Williams and her sister Venus Williams against the Argentine-Colombian pair Solana Sierra and Camila Osorio. The match was initially scheduled for Thursday and Friday but has been postponed due to Serena's injury during her singles match. Tournament organizer Andy Murray (likely a misstatement, as Andy Murray is a British player, and the correct name might be someone like Ashley Barker or another official) stated they are giving Serena as much time as possible to recover. They ruled out postponing the match to later dates unless necessary for safety or tournament flow. The match is expected to take place on a larger court to accommodate the large crowd attracted by Serena and Venus, who are major stars. Serena returned to professional tennis after four years, but she lost her first singles match and injured her knee. She did not attend a press conference afterward due to health reasons and expressed her commitment to participating in the doubles event. Serena and Venus have won six doubles titles together, including a title in 2016.
As in the old days, the Charlevoix Festival will present Almodóvar's film in the Marian Baths.
The Karlovy Vary International Film Festival will screen Pedro Almodóvar's new film 'Bitter Christmas' in Mariánské Lázně ahead of its wider release across Czech cinemas starting August 6. The film explores themes of artistic creation and personal relationships through two intertwined narratives—one focusing on a renowned filmmaker and the other on a young advertising director dealing with grief. Almodóvar presented the film at the Cannes Film Festival earlier this year, where he called on creators to speak out against societal crises and figures like Donald Trump, Benjamin Netanyahu, and Vladimir Putin. While the film received mixed reviews, with some critics finding it slightly disjointed, it is part of the festival’s 60th anniversary celebrations and includes a special section revisiting classic films from past festivals.
It's a tennis massacre, they're angry with the Czechs, a revolutionary innovation to take their jobs.
The article discusses proposed changes by the Men's Tennis Association (ATP) to significantly reduce the number of doubles tournaments and their financial value in the future. These changes would affect major events like the Masters, where only 16 pairs would compete, and smaller events with just eight teams. Czech players like Adam Pavlásek and Patrik Rikl express concern, arguing that the new rules would disadvantage doubles specialists, limit opportunities for players outside the top 30, and potentially harm the sport’s appeal. They warn that the changes could lead to a decline in interest in doubles tennis and create significant challenges for players who rely on these tournaments for rankings and income. The proposals are set to take effect at the 2028 US Open, and players are urged to unite and resist the changes through collective action or legal means.
The gun amnesty ends today, the police will announce the results next week
The firearms amnesty in the Czech Republic, which allowed people to legally surrender or register illegally held weapons and ammunition without facing charges, is set to end on Tuesday. The amnesty was announced in January for six months as part of new firearm legislation, which included changes to weapon categories and digitization of firearm permits. Police authorities indicated they will likely publish results next week, according to police spokesperson Irena Brodská. Individuals can still surrender illegal weapons, ammunition, explosives, and other related items at any police station until Tuesday. Authorities advise caution when handling found ammunition, recommending contacting pyrotechnicians instead. During this amnesty, citizens could also request registration of illegally held weapons if they were not used in criminal acts, provided they had appropriate permissions. Notable items surrendered include a rare 81mm mortar, a miniature self-loading pistol called 'Kolibri,' and historical firearms such as a Czechoslovak light machine gun and a Soviet submachine gun. This amnesty marks the sixth time since 2017 that such a program has been implemented, with over 3,800 weapons и
After the heat wave, the Czech Republic will be divided by a cold front: strong storms will hit the West
After breaking the absolute Czech temperature record of 41.9°C in Doksany over the weekend, the country is expected to experience a significant weather shift on Monday. Meteorologists predict that a cold front will move in from the west, dividing the nation into two distinct climate zones. While most of the country will see temperatures ranging between 31–36°C, extreme heat will persist in Moravia and Silesia, reaching up to 39°C. In contrast, western and northwestern Bohemia will experience much cooler conditions, with maximum temperatures around 28°C. The Plzeň Region will show notable local differences, with temperatures rising to 31°C on the east and dropping to 26°C on the west. The Šumava Mountains and northern mountainous areas will be even cooler, at 24°C and 20°C respectively. With the arrival of the cold front, cloud cover will increase, bringing rain and thunderstorms across the country. These storms could be severe, with heavy rainfall, strong winds, and large hailstones. Weather models remain uncertain about the exact intensity and location of these phenomena, but early signs indicate that intense thunderstorms have already begun forming along the borders of the South捷
On the border between imagination and reality, a sculptor and a painter in a conversation about creation and intuition.
The article discusses an interview with sculptor Dana Bartoníčková and painter Jiří Třeštík, focusing on their creative processes and inspirations. Both artists reflect on the role of subconscious, intuition, memory, fantasy, and real-world influences such as parenthood, literature, and history in their work. Bartoníčková talks about her decision to become an artist, emphasizing the necessity of creation in her life, and explains why she chose sculpture as her medium, highlighting the excitement of bringing life to materials. Třeštík shares his inspiration from Jean-Michel Basquiat’s art and discusses his preference for painting due to its immediacy and flexibility. He also mentions experimenting with ceramics and reflects on the themes in his current work, which involve the process of creation itself rather than fixed topics. Bartoníčková explores themes related to female identity, motherhood, and the body, while Třeštík emphasizes the autonomy of individual artworks.
We can't afford it anymore.Germany's making drastic changes to its hospital, doctors are furious
The article discusses proposed changes to Germany's sick leave system, which would require workers to provide a doctor's note from the first day of illness. Chancellor Merz argues these measures are necessary to address high absenteeism rates, which he claims are causing competitive disadvantages. The reforms aim to increase productivity and stabilize public finances. While employers generally support the changes, labor unions and doctors have criticized them, arguing they create distrust and could overwhelm medical offices. Doctors warn that many patients seeking care do not need personal examinations and could stay home. The reforms are part of broader austerity measures including raising the retirement age and adjusting tax policies.
A man from Olomouc met a woman on Tinder, she cost him 5.5 million crowns
A man from Olomouc lost approximately 5.5 million Czech crowns after being scammed by a woman he met on Tinder. The scam involved convincing him to invest in cryptocurrency through a fraudulent platform that generated payment instructions. Police confirmed the fraud was part of a growing trend of cybercrime in the region, with online fraud accounting for 16.9% of all criminal activity last year. The case highlights the risks of investing in unverified opportunities, especially through online relationships. Additionally, another local municipality, Majetín, reportedly lost around four million crowns due to similar fraudulent bank transfers, where perpetrators impersonated police officers and employees of the Czech National Bank.
Putin recognizes the oil map for the first time
Russian President Vladimir Putin acknowledged for the first time that Russia is building 'some oil reserves' during a meeting focused on energy issues. He emphasized the need to strengthen domestic oil production and increase output. Meanwhile, Ukrainian forces continued their attacks on Russian energy infrastructure, detonating an oil purification plant in the southern Krasnodar region, which produces around four million tons of crude oil annually. The Krasnodar region is one of Russia's largest oil-producing areas located near the Black Sea. On Tuesday, Ukrainian forces launched large-scale air strikes on Sevastopol, the largest city on Crimea, including attacks on oil facilities. In response, Russia, which annexed Crimea in 2014, has restricted fuel sales to the public to counteract the energy shortages. According to reports, these attacks have had no impact on the front line. During an interview with a Russian state television station, Putin described the Ukrainian attacks on Russian oil infrastructure as an attempt to destabilize Russian society. He stated that Ukraine's goal was to halt the deployment of Russian military units to improve their position in arms control talks.
The government has approved freezing the price of highway tickets.
The Czech government has decided to freeze the prices of motorway toll stickers, effectively halting the annual price increases based on inflation and the expansion of the motorway network. This decision cancels a mechanism introduced by the previous government under Petr Fiala (ODS), which had been in effect since January 2023. The current government, led by Andrej Babiš (ANO), had pledged this measure in their program statement. However, they have not yet fulfilled another promise to equalize conditions between electric vehicles and traditional cars by removing discounts on toll sticker prices for low-emission vehicles. Originally, the ministry planned to eliminate these discounts in the same legislative proposal, arguing that all vehicles wear down roads equally and that the number of electric vehicles is increasing. However, after feedback from inter-ministerial review and communication with the European Commission, the government dropped this plan to avoid potential financial repercussions related to the National Recovery Plan. Current discounts for low-emission vehicles will remain in place until 2027.
Heat waves in the Czech Republic are longer and more intense, similar episodes will increase, says geographer
A current heatwave affecting the Czech Republic has been described by geography professor Michal Lehnert as exceptional due to both its extreme temperatures—reaching up to 40 degrees Celsius—and its prolonged duration, which began in early June. The situation arises from tropical air masses flowing into Central Europe from Africa, a phenomenon that historically occurs but now appears more frequent and longer-lasting. According to Lehnert, studies confirm that heatwaves in Central Europe have become more intense and longer over recent decades, and this trend is expected to continue. These conditions pose significant health risks, particularly for vulnerable groups such as seniors, people with cardiovascular or respiratory issues, and children who are exposed to hot surfaces and environments. Animals are also at risk during these periods. Lehnert emphasizes the need for adaptive measures, including improved building insulation, solar panels, green spaces, and water features in urban areas to mitigate the effects of rising temperatures. Climate models suggest that this summer could be above average in temperature, with July and August likely to be normal to slightly below average in降水
Trump chce, ať Česko plní závazky. „Nejsme jejich kolonie,“ opáčil Babiš
Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš strongly opposed the United States during parliamentary questions, reacting to reports that Czech diplomats received warnings from the American administration before the NATO summit in Ankara. The US reportedly urged Czech officials to focus on fulfilling their defense spending commitments rather than explaining why they have failed to meet them. Babiš emphasized that the Czech Republic is a partner, not a colony, and criticized the US for implying such a relationship. The Czech government has struggled to meet its target of allocating at least 2% of GDP to defense, with the US now advocating for 5%. According to documents cited by *Deník N*, the US warned that if Czech leaders focused on justifying their failure to reach 2%, it would severely damage their credibility. Babiš initially dismissed the claims as fabricated but later acknowledged he has met with Donald Trump multiple times and has accommodated the US in other matters, such as caring for an American citizen suspected of having Ebola. The Czech government plans to commit to increasing defense spending, aiming for 3.5% of GDP by 2035. However, Babiš stated that the country cannot afford to
EU imposes sanctions on six people it says had a role in Navalny's death
The European Union has imposed sanctions on six individuals from Russia, accusing them of involvement in the development of chemical weapons, including the toxin found in samples taken from the body of Russian opposition figure Alexei Navalny. Navalny, a prominent critic of President Vladimir Putin, died in February 2024 while serving a sentence in a remote penal colony. The sanctioned individuals include scientists and researchers working in the military sphere, some affiliated with the Scientific Center Signal (SC Signal), where they conducted research and published papers on the synthesis of epibatidin, contributing to its development as a chemical weapon. Among those sanctioned is Igor Babkin, head of the laboratory at SC Signal. Sanctions include asset freezes and travel bans to the EU. Russian authorities claim Navalny died due to a combination of illnesses and arrhythmia, but his family and supporters reject this explanation, asserting he was killed on orders from Putin. In February 2025, foreign ministries of Britain, France, Germany, Sweden, and the Netherlands stated that Navalny was poisoned with the nerve agent epibatidin. Epibatidin originates from the skin of certain
Overlooked
Under-reported & one-sided
The United States has informed the International Criminal Court that it does not recognize its jurisdiction
Soud v Bělorusku poslal do vězení novináře, který organizoval debaty s opozicí
Mattoni rozšiřuje s italskou Lavazzou kávový byznys na Slovensko
Five people have been arrested over the green lake at the Lincoln Memorial.
"There are no limits". Trump has given a crucial interview, and the sample is already shocking.
The municipalities will get more money for affordable housing, but the subsidies will be lower.
California Governor Newsom claims Trump ordered his investigation
