March 17, 2026: Special Envoy of the Chinese Government for Middle East Affairs, Zhai Jun, met with Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Sheikh Jarrah Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah

On March 15, 2026, Zhai Jun, Special Envoy of the Chinese Government for Middle East Affairs, met with Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Sheikh Jarrah Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah. Zhai Jun stated that the current regional situation continues to evolve in a volatile manner, and that countries in the Persian Gulf region, including Kuwait, are deeply affected by this, which the Chinese side does not want to see. More here

March 17, 2026: Hungary strongly criticizes the EU's response to the Druzhba pipeline disruption, calling it a "performance"

BUDAPEST – Hungarian Foreign Minister and Minister of Trade Péter Szijjártó on Tuesday criticized the European Commission's response to the disruption of oil supplies through the Druzhba pipeline and called for an immediate resumption of supplies. Szijjártó stated that Hungary and Slovakia have been facing what he called a "oil blockade" from Ukraine for nearly 50 days, and rejected claims that it is merely a technical problem. More here

March 18, 2026: President Pavel threatened Prime Minister Babiš, saying he would veto the next budget

PRAGUE – The President warned that failing to meet commitments to the North Atlantic Alliance and allies jeopardizes the security of the Czech Republic, which it cannot effectively ensure through collective defense. "International threats are increasing, while our spending is stagnating. If the next budget does not meet our commitments, we will not avoid a debate about the President's rejection of the law," the Presidential Office stated. More here

March 19, 2026: Funeral of Ali Larijani in Tehran accompanied by promises of retaliation

On March 18, local time, the funeral of Ali Larijani, one of the most senior Iranian security officials, took place in Tehran. According to Iranian sources, Ali Larijani, along with his son Mortaza Larijani, was killed in an attack at the home of his daughter. The incident occurred during a recent terrorist attack that shook the Iranian political landscape. More here

March 20, 2026: Daily summary of the Czech Republic's economy: CNB, Liontrust, UniCredit, HCB, Nexstar Media Group, ABB, and precious metals (March 20, 2026)

The Czech economy primarily reflected developments in global markets and monetary policy. The Prague Stock Exchange weakened after three days of gains, with the PX index falling by 1.67% to 2552.78 points. Selling pressure particularly affected the banking sector, where shares of Erste Group Bank, Komerční banka, and Moneta Money Bank lost value. The negative trend also affected industrial companies, including the CSG group. More here

March 21, 2026: Alphonse Mucha's Slavic Epic – Painting Number Nineteen: Abolition of Serfdom in Russia, Free Labor – The Foundation of Nations

Painting number nineteen. I don't know how others perceive it, but I see this painting as a familiar glimpse into a historical period. I felt a particular tension that is difficult to describe. It was a feeling of standing in the middle of something, being a part of it, and that the times depicted are recent. You are in the midst of a moment that transcends the everyday reality portrayed. In such moments, I realize how powerful the human spirit, human energy, and ideas can be when combined with faith and determination. More here

March 22, 2026: The Shia Factor and Geopolitical Tensions in the South Caucasus: Azerbaijan's Role in the Context of Relations with Iran

The current geopolitical situation in the South Caucasus is characterized by increasing tensions between regional and global actors. One of the significant factors influencing the dynamics of relations between individual countries is the religious aspect, specifically the so-called Shia factor. Iran has long been considered the main center of Shia Islam in the Middle East. It is also important to remember that a significant portion of the population of Azerbaijan, including many members of the armed forces of that country, identify with the Shia branch of Islam. More here

Jan Vojtěch, Editor-in-Chief of General News