EU Carbon Costs Pressure: Six EU governments, including Czechia, are pushing to freeze free CO2 permit allocations after the Commission proposed a slower phase-in that would raise carbon costs for energy-intensive industry. Czech Labour Shortage: A structural skills mismatch is worsening across production, logistics, construction, healthcare and hospitality, despite tens of thousands of vacancies and hundreds of thousands of job seekers. EU Subsidy Block Over Conflict Checks: Brussels is halting EU payments tied to companies linked to Prime Minister Andrej Babiš until conflict-of-interest questions are clarified, putting Agrofert-linked subsidy claims under scrutiny. Hydropower Hit by Drought: Czech hydro output is down 30–50% versus normal as drought persists, with knock-on effects for river freight. Rail Modernisation: Construction starts on the Prague-Ruzyně–Kladno line upgrade, aiming to cut travel time to about 7.5 minutes and boost capacity. Packaging Investment: Paranova triples capacity at its UK St Neots food-to-go packaging plant after a £5m upgrade. Ammunition Supply Uncertainty: The Czech-led Ukraine ammo initiative has reportedly halved in funding participants since Babiš returned to power. Logistics Expansion: Rohlig SUUS Logistics opens an Uzbekistan subsidiary to grow end-to-end freight and warehousing in Central Asia.