Czech public television and radio go on strike against government plan

Public television and radio workers in the Czech Republic began a 24-hour strike against government plans to cut funding and transfer revenue sources to the state budget. They fear these changes will undermine editorial independence. The strike disrupted broadcasts, with presenters dressed in black reading news from scripts in a dark newsroom. Protests are also planned in Prague, supported by artists and students. The government, led by Prime Minister Andrej Babis, aims to eliminate the monthly fee for public media funding and reduce budgets by 15%, reverting them to levels from nearly two decades ago. Workers accuse the government of seeking greater political control over media content, while Babis denies these claims, stating the goal is to ease financial burdens on families. The proposal has passed an initial parliamentary vote and will undergo further debate before final approval.