The cheapest heat is the heat a home does not lose
Insulation, draughts and heating controls can determine how much energy a Czech household needs. Replacing a boiler is only one part of the story.
Major stories
The stories shaping public life, explained.
A presidential veto sends a law back. It does not end the argument
The Czech constitution gives parliament the final word on an ordinary bill returned by the president, provided enough deputies support it.
A school place is also a question of geography
Growing residential districts can put pressure on local classrooms even when national pupil totals tell a different story.
Ukraine’s grain exports depend on more than the harvest
From storage silos to sea lanes, the journey of a crop explains why transport has become a central part of Ukraine’s wartime economy.
Swiss neutrality is a policy with boundaries, not an absence of choices
The distinction between military neutrality and foreign policy helps explain Switzerland’s place in debates about sanctions, security and European cooperation.
Why a barrel of oil does not tell the whole story at the pump
Crude oil, refining, exchange rates and taxes all contribute to the price of fuel. They do not necessarily move together or reach forecourts at the same time.
A lower mortgage rate can still leave a difficult housing calculation
The interest rate is only one part of the cost of buying a home. The purchase price, deposit and length of the loan determine how far a household’s budget will stretch.
Sixty years after his radio debut, Cimrman’s joke is still about us
A fictional genius introduced to Czech radio in 1966 became a lasting part of the country’s theatrical language. The joke depends on taking the evidence very seriously.