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On the occasion of the 79th Anniversary of the National Day of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, Ambassador H.E. Mr. Hoai Nam DUONG, hosted a reception at the Grandior Hotel – Prague.

The honored speakers were RNDr. Miloš Vystrčil – President of the Senate of the Czech Republic and Mr. Eduard Hulicius deputy minister of foreign affairs of the Czech Republic

Watch the video with the speech of H.E. Mr. Hoai Nam DUONG, RNDr. Miloš Vystrčil and Mr. Eduard Hulicius and highlights from the culture program.

Happy National Day Vietnam – Chúc mừng ngày quốc khánh Việt Nam

Mersey is undoubtedly one of the cutest inhabitants of the Prague Zoo. It impresses visitors with its view every day at 2 p.m. during the commented feeding of the wombats in the Darwin Crater. Photo by Oliver Le Que, Prague Zoo

The female common Mersey wombat in the Prague Zoo becomes independent. The first wombat born in the Czech Republic has already stopped sucking mother’s milk and has fully switched to adult food. She no longer returns to her mother Winkleigh’s bag, but she still clings to her side. This can best be seen every day at 2pm during the guided feeding of these marsupials in the Darwin Crater indoor exhibit.

“Formally, we cannot yet consider the first Czech baby wombat to have been bred. Breeding is complete when the individual is separated from the mother or when the animal reproduces on its own or goes to another zoo for this purpose. Although Mersey has already left the pouch and stopped drinking breast milk, she still seeks her mother’s presence. However, they will become independent by the end of the year,” says curator of mammals Pavel Brandl.

Mersey was probably born at the beginning of last September. As marsupials, wombats – like kangaroos or Tasmanian devils – are born in the embryonic stage and subsequent development takes place in the mother’s pouch. The breeders observed the movement of the young in the bag for the first time in November, while in February the limbs began to stick out of the bag, and in March the head. The following June, Mersey climbed out of the bag for the first time.

“Little Mersey is becoming more fearless and exploring the world around her. She has been grazing on fresh grass with her mother since July, but only last week she tasted sweet potato for the first time. It is a favorite treat of her father Cooper in particular,” says breeder David Vala. “Newly, Mersey also allows herself to be gently touched, which is important for veterinary examinations. It will come in handy when she has a baby herself one day.’

The female wombat Mersey still looks very tiny next to her mother Winkleigh. Photo by Oliver Le Que, Prague Zoo

The best way to get to know the Prague wombats is the new “Meet the wombats” experience program of the Prague Zoo. With a bit of luck, its participants will even feed the friendly marsupials. You can find more information and free dates of the experience program at https://eshop.zoopraha.cz/zazitkove-programy/poznejte-se-s-vombaty.html.

On Tuesday, August 27, 2024, the President of the Republic Petr Pavel received the head of the Czech Republic’s embassies abroad at Prague Castle.

You can watch the video with parts of the President’s speech ( In Czech )  and of Mr. Jan Lipavsky – the minister for foreign affairs.

A translation of the president’s speech can be read here:

Honorable Minister, Honorable Ambassadors, Honorable Consuls General, Honorable Ambassadors, Honorable Consuls General, Ladies and Gentlemen, good afternoon to you all.

I used our first meeting last year mainly to present to you how I want to carry out my mandate in the field of foreign policy. I spoke about the need to restore unity, comprehensibility, and predictability to Czech foreign policy. Thanks to your work, I think we are doing quite well. I also talked about what we should stand for in the world above all. Namely, so that the rules do not cease to apply in the international environment so that the will of the stronger law does not prevail. There is no more important task in our country’s foreign and security policy today than the continued support of Ukraine. Stopping and, above all, the failure of Russian aggression is in our vital interest. Although any Russian success would of course be perceived as a victory, for us it would mean not only economic and political instability but also another significant wave of refugees.

I am very happy that the Czech Republic manages to maintain a unified, predictable, and understandable position on this key issue, and not only at the level of the highest constitutional officials, with whom I regularly meet to debate foreign policy. In June, at the Prague Castle, we also confirmed the agreement between the government and the largest opposition party that it is in our interest to continue to support Ukraine in all aspects and strive for such a peace that will be just and lasting. And I value this agreement with the opposition very much. The Czech Republic has shown that it takes its assistance to Ukraine seriously, and it has rightly received recognition for this. Our ammunition initiative helps defenders bridge the critical period. Czech reconstruction efforts are already helping the hard-hit Ukrainian healthcare and energy sector. We are often able to help in areas where others do not venture. And for that, everyone involved deserves thanks and recognition.

Russia’s aggression against Ukraine shows how non-confrontational relations with our neighbors are not self-evident and essential for the security of our country. I will therefore continue to make efforts to ensure that our neighbors know that the Czech Republic is their open and reliable partner. Regardless of changes of government, I want to ensure that contacts at the highest presidential level remain constructive and open. Our active membership in the European Union and the North Atlantic Alliance will continue to be a pillar of our country’s security. In the spring, here at Prague Castle, we commemorated important anniversaries, 25 years of membership in NATO and 20 years of membership in the European Union. Russian aggression has given NATO’s mission new urgency. The July summit of the Alliance, which I had the opportunity to attend in Washington, clearly confirmed that NATO not only remains militarily strong, but also becomes stronger politically and takes a more global approach. However, it should be remembered here that the basic principle of NATO’s existence is deterrence. And if deterrence is to be credible, it must also be effective. And deterrence will certainly not be represented by a table showing the two, three or even four percent that we spend on defense from GDP. Deterrence will be credible only when we have an effective, deployable and ready armed force, when we meet the specific construction goals that our republic and our allies have committed to as part of NATO defense planning. So not only reporting, but also specific demonstrable abilities.

Europe and the European Union remain a Havelian “task” in which we participate and whose shape we determine ourselves. Your role in clearly communicating our positions and defending our interests is irreplaceable here. I am convinced that Europe must build its international position better and more systematically. As a community built on values, we must become a more geopolitical and actionable Europe, able to assertively defend and pragmatically promote our interests. The shock of Russian aggression also added new dynamism to the European Union’s enlargement process. I consider it essential that we do not lose sight of this key interest. That is why last year I received the president of Ukraine and the president of Moldova and Georgia at the Prague Castle. I will also pay similar attention to the countries of the Western Balkans. At the end of this week, we will welcome four presidents from this region to the Globsec conference. I will also have bilateral negotiations with all of them.

But we must also look beyond the horizons of our European borders. Developments in areas that are often geographically far away affect us more significantly than ever before. This requires us to have a better global overview, to build closer relationships regardless of geographical distances. Therefore, with your help, I will continue to build alliances and solidarity with countries of similar values ​​across all continents.

In the introduction, I mentioned one of my main goals, namely that the agreed rules do not cease to apply in the international environment and that the will-driven right of the stronger does not prevail. The success of our efforts will be measured in the long term by how many countries outside the Western Circle we convince of this vision. Above all, Russia, but also China and other actors are increasingly assertively influencing the politics of the countries of the so-called global South. It would therefore be a fatal mistake to allow their attitudes towards us to be determined by the pictures painted by our opponents. We must not allow the Russian interpretation of the war in Ukraine or the false notion that the interests of these countries can best be defended by autocratic powers to prevail. We can best achieve this in Africa, Asia, and South America with patient work and a fair offer of open cooperation. Africa in particular is a continent whose development is in our vital interest. That is also why, after the president of Mozambique, I also welcomed the Angolan head of state in Prague and held talks with President Kagame and other African leaders in Rwanda. I will continue to be in contact with these African representatives.

If we want to be a respected partner and have influence at the international level, we must also strengthen our development and transformation cooperation. We should strive not only to secure a sufficient amount of financial and human resources, but also for greater flexibility, in order to be able to strengthen re-established relationships through development as well as cooperative projects.

Supporting companies and searching for new economic opportunities is a fixed part of my travels and the visits I receive. The security and stability of the Czech Republic is closely linked to our prosperity and the success of companies abroad. I am glad that we managed to invite entrepreneurs, for example, to travel to Israel at a time of tense security situation in the region. In cooperation with the Union of Industry and Transport and the Chamber of Commerce, I want to continue to build business delegations according to the real possibilities and needs of the given country, and to select especially innovative companies and perspective fields. After each such trip, and especially when it turns into a concrete result in the form of an established cooperation or contract, I would very much welcome your feedback.

Ladies and gentlemen, the next 12 months have several key events ahead of us. In November, 35 years will pass since the Velvet Revolution, which marked, among other things, the beginning of a new independent Czechoslovak and later Czech foreign policy. The year 2025 will also be the year of a new, perhaps an old, president of the United States of America. And as we know, the outcome of the American elections will largely determine where the possible solutions to the current conflicts will move. But it will also be the year of the eightieth anniversary of the end of the Second World War, the liberation of the concentration camps and a number of other important commemorations. It is our duty to keep these memories alive but also understandable for younger generations to avoid repeating the same mistakes in the future.

Last but not least, next year will bring one seemingly small, yet significant change for our citizens. Czechs abroad will be able to cast their vote in elections by mail. For those who live far from home, but have maintained a relationship with their country and do not care what happens in it, the possibility of a correspondence election is a significant relief. I would therefore like to ask you to inform compatriots in the countries of your assignment in a timely and reliable manner about this change. All the tasks I talked about would not be possible without the determination, professionalism and dedication of you, your colleagues. During my travels abroad, I had the opportunity to see the work of many of you, and I know with what commitment you devote yourself to the defense of Czech interests. I would like to sincerely thank you for your work so far and wish you much energy and success in your future endeavors. Thank you for your attention.

Petr Pavel, President of the Republic, Prague Castle, August 27, 2024

The Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies, Markéta Pekarová Adamová, opened a special investment seminar of the Taiwanese Semiconductor Mission in the lower chamber of the Parliament. This is the result of excellent Czech-Taiwanese relations to date. The seminar aims to make it easier for Taiwanese companies to invest in the strategically key semiconductor sector and to help connect them with their potential Czech business partners.

“Our mission to Taiwan last year not only helped Czech companies open the door to the prospective markets there but also managed to attract one of the largest delegations of Taiwanese entrepreneurs to us. At the same time, more intensive mutual contacts contribute to the creation of an increasingly interconnected network of industrial and academic partnerships within the strategically important supply chain of semiconductors. Users here and in Taiwan benefit from this, and our companies become more resilient. This is not uncharted territory. Taiwan is already one of the most important investors here. Investments in the field of semiconductors have a high added value and will lead to the creation of new qualified jobs,” said the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies, Markéta Pekarová Adamová.

The seminar in the House of Representatives explained to the delegates the specific possibilities of drawing funds from European funds, the current setting of investment incentives, permit processes, the regime for granting visas, and establishing companies in the Czech Republic, as well as the issue of European regulations, including the requirement for a responsible and sustainable approach to investment and business. As part of their visit, potential investors will also visit the Ústí and South Moravian regions.

“Taiwan is a key partner for the Czech Republic. We share common values ​​with it, and at the same time, it is a world power in the field of semiconductors and advanced technologies. I am proud that we can develop our mutual relations in the field of science, research, and innovation. This cooperation brings enormous opportunities for Czech industry and the research sphere,” added Marek Ženíšek, Minister for Science, Research and Innovation of the Government of the Czech Republic.

The Czech Republic attracts more and more tourists thanks to its rich beer tradition. According to the latest statistics from the Czech Tourism Office – CzechTourism, the most popular beer destinations include Pilsenský Prazdroj, which was visited by almost 530,000 people last year, and beer unique places in Žatec, such as the Temple of Hops and Beer or the Hop Museum. Beer spas, whose popularity is rising across the country, are also experiencing a significant increase.

Beer trails and exclusive experiences draw tourists to the Czech Republic

The country is a popular destination for beer lovers from all over the world. Thanks to the long tradition of brewing, varied experiences and the connection of beer culture with history and local traditions, it becomes the center of so-called beer tourism. This trend is confirmed by the growing number of visitors as well as new beer products that attract not only beer tasting, but also cultural and historical experiences. For example, the Radegast Brewery in the Moravian-Silesian region saw an increase in the number of tourists by 188% last year. 19,600 people decided to visit him. In the past year, the popularity of the Museum of Brewing in Tábor, the Velké Popovice Brewery in Central Bohemia, or the Visitor Center of Budějovice Budvar has also increased significantly. And the number of visits also increased significantly in the case of key places related to beer in the Žatec area.

“The Czech Republic has exceptional potential in the field of beer tourism, thanks to its long history of brewing beer, unique breweries and the current trend of experiential and sustainable tourism. Our goal is to show that traveling for beer can be not only about tasting great beer, but also about getting to know Czech culture, traditions and history. Domestic breweries offer experiences that combine tradition with modern innovations, which is the key to attracting reputable tourists,” says František Reismüller, director of the Czech Tourism Office – CzechTourism, and adds: “Good food is an inherent part of good beer. And the Czech Republic offers a unique combination of delicious food and a chilled glass of sparkling wine. A guarantee of quality is the blue logo on the doors of certified restaurants, which we have tested for our own taste buds as part of our CzechSpecials project. In the list of certified establishments with the highest quality, we can also find several breweries and microbreweries across the country.”

Beer tourism in the Czech Republic is also gaining international recognition. One of its highlights is the sightseeing route in Plzeňské Prazdroj, which this March received the prestigious award in the Europe’s Leading Beer Tour Visitor Experience 2024 category for the best brewery visitor route in Europe as part of the 31st edition of the WorldTravel Awards 2024 competition. It thus surpassed the world’s most famous breweries, such as Irish Guinness, Belgian Stella Artois or Dutch Heineken. It is visited annually by hundreds of thousands of local and foreign visitors. Which confirms the fact that the Czech Republic is an attractive tourist destination.

Žatec – a world-unique hop landscape under UNESCO protection

Last year’s inclusion of Žatec and the Žatec hop landscape on the UNESCO list was a significant contribution to Czech beer tourism. Žatec is thus the first place in the world where the hop landscape is protected by this prestigious statute. Visitors to the region can stroll through hop farms, visit the Hop Museum or taste beers from several breweries, where they are brewed from local hops. Its uniqueness, cultivation history and traditions go back several centuries, making the Czech Republic an exceptional place on the beer map of the world. Every year, the city attracts visitors to Žatecká dočesná. This year’s will take place on September 6-7, 2024.

And the fact that there is more and more interest in Žatec and its surroundings is also confirmed by the data. Over the past 14 years, the number of people who decided to visit the local Temple of Hops and Beer has increased tenfold. While 1,464 visited this place in 2010, last year it was already 15,728. The Stekník Castle, which is one of the most important Rococo buildings in Bohemia, has seen an equally large increase in the number of visitors in this region over the past decade. Last year, it was visited by 14,344 tourists. In addition to the traditional castle tours, it also offers visitors the opportunity to learn a number of interesting facts about the history of beer, within the framework of exhibitions dedicated to the topic of hops called “How to get Czech to the Vertebrate”.

Prague connects beer and culture

The Czech metropolis is also taking a new approach to beer promotion. It combines the presentation of small breweries with a visit to neighborhoods outside the historic center. It thus supports the authenticity of the region and local experiences. Through new guided tours, tourists have the opportunity to taste beers from smaller breweries, learn about the history of brewing and visit monastery breweries. Prague thus invites a unique connection of beer with cultural events and exhibitions that reflect the rich history of the city.

Trends in beer tourism: the rise of craft beer tourism

Beer tourism or “craft beer tourism” is not only the domain of the capital city. New thematic beer trails and beer spas that offer authentic and local experiences can be found by fans of the sparkling drink all over the Czech Republic. The trend is mainly to travel to smaller craft breweries. They offer not only high-quality and original beers, but also experiences connected with their production and local traditions.

“Czech brewers are increasingly focusing on quality and sustainability, which attracts more demanding tourists. Our members combine beer production with local traditions and thus offer comprehensive experiences that include not only drinking beer, but also tours of breweries, excursions to hop farms or beer brewing workshops. An important event for all brewers – the Saint Wenceslas Festival, which takes place every year in September and kicks off the Days of Czech Beer, which is a holiday for all lovers of beer, pubs and gastronomy, will bring the opportunity to try special types of beers. During them, many of our breweries will offer beer specials and cultural events,” says Tomáš Slunečko, Executive Director of the Czech Association of Breweries and Malthouses.

The aim of all these activities is to show that Czech beer is more than just an alcoholic drink. It is part of a rich cultural tradition, linked to local attractions and gastronomy. Tourists are thus guided to enjoy beer in the context of local culture and history, while at the same time behaving responsibly and with respect for the given regions. An overview of beer trails, breweries, beer spas, museums and other objects connected with growing or tasting beer is provided by the CzechTourism agency on its portal Kudy z nudy. Those interested in this area can choose from a considerable number of experiences – from visits to monastery breweries to participation in beer workshops, where tourists can try what it’s like to brew their own beer.

The government discussed and approved the proposal of ministers Ivan Bartoš and Marian Jurečka on the institutional anchoring of the Agency for Social Inclusion, in an amended form, and confirmed that it will continue to operate in cities and municipalities after 2025. It is the government’s main tool for solving social exclusion in the regions.

The Agency for Social Inclusion has been operating since 2008, the last four years as a department of the Ministry for Regional Development. “For the Agency, the government’s decision means above all a confirmation of its necessity and the continuation of its operation in the current scope even for 2025. It will remain permanently part of the Ministry for Regional Development, but its activities will continue to be financed primarily in a project way. Next year, however, I will strengthen its funding within the framework of the MMR, as the government decided today,” explained Deputy Prime Minister for Digitization and Minister for Regional Development Ivan Bartoš.

The agency supports cities in the restoration of socially excluded localities, the development of affordable housing, solving the long-term burden on residents, making education accessible to socially disadvantaged children, or increasing safety. It cooperates with the General Directorate of the Labor Office in supporting the employment of the long-term unemployed, now as part of the pilot project Integration Jobs. Together with the Ministry of Education and Culture, it provides support to municipalities in the desegregation of schools with a larger number of Roma pupils. It is also a partner of the Ministry of the Interior, with which it participates in the development of systemic crime prevention measures.

Among the main tools of functioning is the so-called coordinated approach to social exclusion. Through it, it helps cities and municipalities to process and put into practice projects from the operational programs of the Ministry of the Interior, the Ministry of Education and Culture, and the MMR. In the last four years, there were over 400 of them for 3 billion crowns. The agency also fulfills an important methodological role. For example, it methodically develops community work in 20 municipalities. It has newly opened a program for cities and municipalities for the systematic development of selected socially excluded localities. “The government has confirmed the need to develop both basic support in municipalities and specific programs in which the Agency works closely with individual ministries. This connects support at the local level with government social inclusion policies, which is essential,” added Martin Šimáček, director of the Agency for Social Inclusion.

Local consultants of the Agency currently work in more than 60 places in the Czech Republic, including large cities such as Ostrava, Brno, Liberec, but also in smaller municipalities in the less accessible areas of Jesenice or Šluknovska. “The interest in supporting the Agency is growing. Not only smaller municipalities, but also large cities, which need to solve overcrowded slums, unaffordability of housing and disturbed coexistence in the vicinity of some localities, are applying for cooperation. We can see from the positive feedback that they rely on this support,” added Šimáček.

A significant initiative of the Agency for Social Inclusion is the development of the so-called Social Exclusion Index. This is the government’s basic orientation tool for monitoring the development of social exclusion and interpreting changes in individual areas. According to data from the Index for 2023, due to covid, rising energy prices and extreme inflation, the number of municipalities at risk increased by 10% year-on-year. There are now 238 municipalities in the Czech Republic where the social exclusion rate exceeds 12 as measured by the Social Exclusion Index, which means a high burden. The Agency updates the Index annually. It is measured by five indicators, which are foreclosures, unemployment, unaffordability of housing, material poverty and children leaving school early.

A seven-member jury led by the President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe Theodoros Rousopoulos announced in the premises of the Václav Havel Library the three finalists for the international Václav Havel Prize for Human Rights for 2024, which is awarded by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe in cooperation with the Václav Havel Library and the Charter 77 Foundation.

Akif Gurbanov, Azerbaijan –  is a human rights defender, political activist and active member of Azerbaijani civil society. He is the co-founder and chairman of the Institute of Democratic Initiative and the Third Republic Platform. He was arrested in March 2024 in a wave of arrests targeting journalists and activists in the country.

María Corina Machado, Venezuela – is a leading political figure in Venezuela. He draws attention to human rights violations in his country and deals with the defense of democracy and the rule of law. She is the co-founder of the Venezuelan volunteer civic organization Súmate for civil and political freedom, rights and citizen participation.

Babutsa Pataraia, Georgia –  is a feminist activist and human rights lawyer in Georgia. Since 2013, she has been the director of the non-governmental organization Sapari, which focuses on women’s rights and provides support to victims of violence. For more than ten years, she has been dedicated to the fight against sexual violence against women and sexual harassment.

“The candidates selected by the jury for the final three come from different parts of the world, from different backgrounds, and their stories highlight different social and political issues. All are united by a commitment to the fight for human rights, democracy, and freedom in their countries. The stories of Akif Gurbanov, María Corina Machado, and Babutsi Patarai give concrete human contours to the struggle for freedom and democracy, which are comprehensible to all of us and in many ways resemble the dissident legacy of Václav Havel. I thank the jury for the careful selection of these three finalists,” said Milan Babík, director of the Václav Havel Library, shortly after the names of the finalists were announced.

“Every year, the Václav Havel Prize is an urgent reminder that freedom and respect for human rights are not a matter of course, but that we should take care of them and loudly point out that we cannot be indifferent not only to what is happening here but also beyond our borders. The Charter 77 Foundation has been carrying this legacy for almost half a century, not only by awarding prizes but every day when we consistently try to remove barriers in society,” says Jolana Voldánová, director of the Charter 77 Foundation.

PRIZE WINNER ANNOUNCEMENT

The ceremonial announcement of the 2024 Prize laureate and its presentation will take place during the autumn session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the RE in Strasbourg, which will take place on September 30, 2024.

CONFERENCE IN HONOR OF THE LAUREATE

The Václav Havel Library will hold an international conference in honor of the laureate in Prague on Wednesday, October 2, 2024 at the Prague Crossroads. You can register for the conference for free HERE. If you would like to participate in the conference as a journalist or if you are interested in an interview with one of the guests, please contact me by email or by phone.

VÁCLAV HAVLA PRIZE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS

The Václav Havel Prize for Human Rights highlights an extraordinary achievement in the field of human rights protection in Europe and beyond. The prize is awarded annually by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe in partnership with the Václav Havel Library and the Charter 77 Foundation and is associated with a reward of 60,000 euros.

LAUREATES OF THE VÁCLAVA HAVLA AWARD FOR HUMAN RIGHTS

2023 Osman Kavala (Turkey)

2022 Vladimir Kara-Murza (Russia)

2021 Maryja Kalesnikavová (Belarus)

2020 Loujain Al-Hathloul (Saudi Arabia)

2019 Ilham Tohti (China) together with Youth Initiative for Human Rights (Western Balkan countries)

2018 Oyub Titiev (Russia)

2017 Murat Arslan (Turkey)

2016 Nadia Murad (Iraq)

2015 Lyudmila Alexeeva (Russia)

2014 Anar Mammadli (Azerbaijan)

2013 Aleš Byaljacky (Belarus)

Václav Havel Library / www.vaclavhavel.cz

By HAVEL & PARTNERS s.r.o., attorneys-at-law   

No sooner have the rules resulting from the “big” October amendment to the Czech Labour Code started to be successfully applied in practice than the government has already introduced and approved another amendment, this time a “flexible” one. The currently proposed effective date is still the beginning of 2025. The amendment will now go to the Chamber of Deputies, and it is, therefore, questionable in what wording, when, and whether we will see the below-proposed changes at all in practice.

HAVEL & PARTNERS s.r.o., attorneys-at-law prepared a selection of the most interesting of the proposed changes for practice and our tips on what you can prepare for already now here.

The Business & Professional Women CR (BPWCR) organization celebrated the 94th anniversary of the founding of its parent international network BPW International with the FINdependence Day event, which took place yesterday in Prague in cooperation with the investment company ATRIS. BPWCR’s main mission is to support women’s economic independence, and it is through educational activities such as this conference that the organization tries to fulfill one of its goals.

Business & Professional Women International, founded in 1930 in Switzerland, aims to improve the position of women in the labor market and in their personal lives. A significant part of this mission is the promotion of financial literacy, which is key to achieving true economic independence. BPWCR has long been focused on educating women in this field.

According to AKAT information, 46% of women do not invest at all, while only 27% of men. At the same time, active financial management enables women to better plan their future, and obtain financial security and security for old age. This disproportion continues to contribute to the fact that women are much more at risk of poverty than men, especially in old age.

“It’s still surprising to me how few women care about managing their finances and leave it to men. But I see that in recent years the interest is increased and we try to talk to women about this topic, and share experiences and advice. That’s why we started organizing conferences in cooperation with Marika Čupa from fin4elle FINdependence to contribute to education and awareness,” said Lenka Šťastná, president of BPWCR during the opening.

The theme of Women’s FINdependence Day was real estate investment. The participants had the opportunity to learn how to correctly evaluate investment opportunities in the real estate sector, what are the pros and cons of investing in individual real estate versus real estate investment funds, how to choose a suitable fund and what are the pluses and minuses of investing in real estate as a long-term tool for securing financial stability.

Among the key speakers was Romana Hárovníková, director of corporate business at the ATRIS investment company, who advised what criteria to follow when choosing investment real estate funds, of which there are 143 on the market, and what to watch out for. Roman Kolev, member of the board and strategy director of the ATRIS investment company, explained the company’s strategy, discussed current trends in real estate investing, and also offered his view on bonds. Ivana Birtová, a real estate and investment specialist from Realitní Shaker, in turn talked about the benefits of investing in real estate and shared practical tips for beginning investors.

The conference also sent a clear message about the importance of investing as a means of providing for old age. The financial disadvantage of women during their working age is negatively prescribed even in the level of their pension security. “Investing is a key tool for future-proofing, whether it’s creating passive income or a financial cushion for retirement. The pension deficit in the budget reaches 30 billion crowns and the state cannot be relied on. Low-income households will not feel it so much, but for middle-income households it will be a huge leap and we need to start preparing for retirement,” emphasized Romana Hárovníková.

Part of the discussion was also the presentation of the Long-Term Investment Product (DIP), a tool that is still not widely used in the Czech Republic (according to AKAT, only 53,000 people have opened a DIP account since the beginning of the year), but offers great potential for diversifying investments and optimizing returns. The panelists agreed on the advantages of this instrument compared to supplementary pension insurance, which, even due to the strict regulation of the market, is not able to generate such returns as other investment instruments, and provided the participants with valuable advice on how to work with it. “DIP is not a product, but a tax instrument. It requires us to think about where we want to put our money. It is necessary to take into account the limited liquidity and thus plan well which investments will be part of the DIP. It goes without saying that you should not put all your funds into one investment product,” reminded Ivana Birtová.

Women’s FINdependence Day proved once again that there is interest and need for educational events of this type. BPWCR will continue to support women in the area of ​​financial education and investing, as these skills are essential for the overall empowerment of women in society. You can find more about Women’s FINdependence on our website https://bpwcr.cz/investovani/.

Ice enrichment will delight especially the polar bears, brothers Gregor and Aleut, on Thursday after 9 o’clock in the morning. Photo by Petr Hamerník, Prague Zoo

The last days of the holidays invite you to visit the Prague Zoo.

The weather forecast is for sunny and hot days. On Friday, August 30, all children under the age of 15 will have entry to the Prague Zoo for a symbolic one crown.

Visitors can also enjoy a family game on the grounds of the zoo from Friday to Sunday – the quiz trail starts on the terrace of the Education Center near the main entrance.

On both weekend days, a special production of Hurvínek and the Uninvited Guest will take place in the Education Center at 10:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. For the puppet show for spectators aged 6 and over, you need to buy a ticket, which does not include entry to the zoo.

Admission to the Prague Zoo for children for one crown will make even their parents happy at the end of the summer holidays. Together, they can take part in a rich program, e.g. guided feeding and meetings with animals across the zoo grounds. The picture shows the Převalský horse paddock, part of the Gobi exhibition, which was opened this year. Photo by Oliver Le Que, Prague Zoo

On Sunday, the first of September, the Prague Zoo will also celebrate the International Day of Primates, when it will introduce visitors to the creatures most similar to us, from tiny proboscis monkeys to great apes. The fun knowledge station “Primates of the World” on the Monkey Islands will be complemented by a special guided feeding and meeting across the primate exhibits according to the schedule below:

• 10.15 feeding of northern talapoins – Dja Reserve
• 10.30 feeding of male lowland gorillas – Méfou Centre
• 11.30 meeting with Sumatran orangutans – Indonesian jungle
• 12.00 meeting at both gorilla groups – Dja Reserve and Méfou Center
• 13.00 meeting with silver gibbons – Monkey Islands
• 14.00 feeding of the Brazza cats – Reserve Dja
• 2.30 p.m. lemur feeding – Lemur Island
• 15.00 feeding of a family group of lowland gorillas – Dja Reserve

Where it will be possible to observe the animals with ice and where the visitors themselves will be able to refresh themselves, the map following Thursday’s program will reveal. Source: Prague Zoo

The Prague Zoo is experiencing an extraordinary year this year – it presents unique additions, whether it is two gorillas Misses Mobi and Gaia, a baby orangutan Harapan, or a small female giraffe Johanka. It is also necessary to mention the second European-born nutcracker named Connie or the first Czech wombat baby, female Mersey. Another novelty is the Gobi exhibition opened this year for Převalský’s horses, manulas and other Central Asian animals. Newly bred species are also attractive, e.g. the popular Madagascar fossas.

On both weekend days, Saturday 31 August, and Sunday 1 September, the summer opening hours will apply for the last time this year, when the gates to the Prague Zoo will not close until 7 p.m.

Photo: Czech Police

An unexploded 500-pound bomb from the Second World War, which was found on Wednesday on the grounds of a chemical plant in Záluží near Litvínov has led to the evacuation of 600 residents. Nothing like this has ever been found in the modern history of Czechia. The bomb is equipped with a chemical mechanism that can postpone its detonation for up to six days.

As a safety measure, the factory has been partially shut down, and a 1.

See more here.

Author: Jakub Ferenčík

Photo: Visit Jakub Brno

The Church of St. Jacob in Brno, one of the country’s most valuable late Gothic buildings, recently reopened to the public after 3 years of extensive repairs. The newly renovated house of prayer now houses a multimedia exhibition that showcases its impressive interior.

The reconstruction, which cost CZ 164 million, has dramatically improved the church’s appearance.

See more here.

Author: Daniela Lazarová

Photo: Vít Pohanka, Radio Prague International

Discover Brno’s hidden underground water tanks on Žlutý kopec, where cool, historic spaces blend with art and offer a unique refuge from the summer heat.

Nestled beneath the surface of Žlutý kopec, or Yellow Hill, in Brno lies a hidden gem—a series of underground water tanks that have been part of the city’s history since the late 19th century.

See more here.

Author: Vít Pohanka

Photo: Tomáš Černý, Czech Radio

Tomáš Kačo grew up in a community flat in Nový Jičín with 11 siblings and a broken piano. But he made it to the Berklee College of Music. He has no doubts about the man who gave him the necessary push saying “It was always my father´s dream to guide his kids towards a better future.” In this episode of the Faces of Czech Music, the pianist and composer shares his thoughts about his music, his marriage to an American-Korean colleague, and life in Los Angeles.

See more here.

Author: Petr Dudek

Postponing the digitisation of construction permits system would cause more economic damage to Czechia than its launch in its current form, Regional Development Minister Ivan Bartoš said in a debate programme on Czech Television on Sunday.

See more here.

Author: Ruth Fraňková

Photo: Czech Television

On August 21, Czechs marked the 56th anniversary of the Soviet-led Warsaw Pact invasion of Czechoslovakia. The oppressive atmosphere and frustrations of the time are reflected in the music of Karel Kryl, the country’s leading protest singer.

Karel Kryl, singer, songwriter and poet, was a leading Czech protest singer, whose music reflected the frustrations of Czechs following the Soviet-led invasion of Czechoslovakia in August of 1968.

See more here.

Author: Daniela Lazarová

Photo: Škoda Auto

The serial production of the new Škoda 100 model began in Mladá Boleslav on August 25, 1969. Unlike its predecessor, the Škoda 1000 MB, which was considered one of the best vehicles in its class, the new model was not that visually attractive and was outdated from the start.

Škoda 100 and the subsequent 110 model were the first Škoda cars whose production numbers breached the one million units mark.

See more here.

Photo: Barbora Kvapilová, Czech Radio

Czechs have a fascination with the American West that is unexpected and often baffling to foreigners not so familiar with some of the more niche aspects of Czech culture. But few have gone so far as Dáša Vaňková, a woman in a small Czech village who spends her days making made-to-measure cowboy-style saddles for customers at home and abroad.

From the Czech “tramping” subculture movement, partly inspired by the US “Wild West”, to the popularity among Czechs of German author Karel May’s series of novels about the fictional Native American hero Winnetou, Czechs have found aspiration and dreams of a simpler life in romanticised portrayals of the American West since at least the founding of the First Republic.

See more here.

Photo: Radek Petrášek, ČTK

Bagpipers, lovers of kilts, whisky, Scottish music and traditional Scottish sports gathered at Sychrov Castle in the Liberec Region for the 24th annual Scottish Games.

See more here.

Photo: Filip Jandourek, Czech Radio

Trade unionists are currently negotiating an increase in the salaries of law enforcement, other security forces, and firefighters with the Interior Ministry. The workers’ representatives are calling for a 10% wage increase starting in October, otherwise, they will consider protesting.

In recent years, workers have faced a significant decline in real income due to rising inflation and stagnant wages.

See more here.

Author: Jakub Ferenčík

Photo: Barbora Navrátilová, Radio Prague International

The name kolach (koláč) originates from the Czech word kolo, meaning “circle” or “wheel” and is a good description of the sweet round pie that comes in all sizes and a variety of delicious fillings. How are they made and why do we love them so much? Find out in our video.

See more here.

Author: Barbora Navrátilová

Photo: David Ferencik

Nestled in the heart of Vinohrady, Prague, the newly opened May Cafe is making a name for itself as a cozy retreat for coffee enthusiasts and casual sippers alike. Opened by the award-winning Mazelab Roastery in Dejvice, the cafe attracts customers for world-class coffee but also a welcoming atmosphere where customers can escape the hustle of the city center. I interviewed the owner of May Cafe, Jackie, to uncover the inspiration behind this new shop.

Let’s start with your background and a little bit about why you opened up this coffee shop specifically.

See more here.

Author: Jakub Ferenčík

Photo: René Volfík, iROZHLAS.cz

The oppressive late summer heatwave is not the only thing that is making life difficult for some city residents. The West Bohemian city of Plzeň is currently fighting an infestation of bats that swarm to urban areas on warm and humid summer evenings. People who carelessly leave their windows open at night may be in for a nasty surprise.

The Noctule bat is a migratory bat species common throughout Europe, Asia, and North Africa.

See more here.

Author: Daniela Lazarová

Photo: Martina Schneibergová, Radio Prague International

This region boasts the natural beauty of the Ore Mountains, the Elbe waterway. The sandstone rocks of Bohemian Switzerland. Check out its sights in our photo gallery.

See more here.

Photo: Nadační fond Neuron

A team of Czech researchers are set to explore what is probably the largest underground thermal lake in the world. They made the discovery on the border of Albania and Greece already two years ago, but were unable to complete their research due to insufficient technology. Thanks to a prestigious grant from the Neuron Foundation, they can now return to the site.

The team of Czech researchers discovered the thermal lake on the bottom of a 100-metre deep abyss, hidden in a limestone massif in the area of Vromoner in south Albania, on the border with Greece.

See more here.

Author: Ruth Fraňková

Photo: Milan Kopecký, Czech Radio

Czechia is one of the world’s biggest producers, exporters, and consumers of poppies. Poppy seeds are known for their positive health benefits, distinct nutty flavor and in Czechia they are among the most basic and popular ingredients for traditional Czech pastries.

Many people, when you mention poppy seeds, will immediately think of drugs.

See more here.

Author: Jakub Ferenčík

EU citizens staying in the Czech Republic for more than 90 days will have to register with the Ministry of Interior, according to a draft law approved by the Czech government on Wednesday.

See more here.

Author: Daniela Lazarová

Photo: Official website of La Grace

Although Czechia is a landlocked country, a replica of an 18th century privateer ship, named La Grace, is sailing the seas under the Czech flag. La Grace was constructed by Captain Josef Dvorský and a group of enthusiasts as a tribute to a famous Bohemian explorer, merchant, pirate and cartographer.

The replica of the privateer ship commanded by the 18th century Bohemian explorer, merchant, pirate and cartographer Augustin Heřman was constructed 14 years ago in Egypt by Czech sailing enthusiasts.

See more here.

Author: Daniela Lazarová

Photo: Jana Plavec, Czech Academy of Sciences

Czech scientist Tomáš Čižmár has won the European Microscopy Society award for contributing to the development of a new, hair-thin endo-microscope, which allows detailed investigation of hard to access brain areas. The revolutionary instrument could help neuroscientists develop new tools for fighting severe neurological conditions, such as dementia or Alzhemier’s disease. I asked Professor Čimžár to tell me more about it:

“Our endoscope differs in that the flow of light through it is controlled by computer-generated and dynamic hologram.

See more here.

Author: Ruth Fraňková

Photo: Jiří Rotrekl, Pixabay, CC0

The World Road Motorcycle Championship will return to Brno’s Masaryk Circuit next year after a five-year break, Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala announced. The state will support the event financially through the National Sports Agency.

With over 50 years of motorcycle Grand Prix history Brno’s iconic race attracted tens of thousands of people from at home and abroad, until its closure, for financial reasons, in 2020.

See more here.

Author: Jakub Ferenčík

On Friday, 23^rd August 2024, at Prague Castle, the President of the Republic Petr Pavel received the credentials of the new Ambassadors extraordinary and plenipotentiary.

H.E Mr. Víctor Aquiles Abujatum Sepúlveda – new Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Chile

H.E Mr. Carlos Manuel Folhadela de Macedo Oliveira – new Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Portugal

H.E Mr. Hayder Shiya Ghubeshi Albarrak – new Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Iraq

And H.E Mr. Aleš Balut – new Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Slovenia.

Gorillas are not animals known for their patience. For slowly melting ice cream on a rope, the whole gang usually takes turns gradually. Pictured is an adolescent gorilla from the Dja Reserve, eight-year-old male Ajabu. Photo by Petr Hamerník, Prague Zoo

On Saturday, August 24, residents of the Prague Zoo will be treated to an ice cream refreshment. Gorillas, elephants, sea lions, and even the polar bears get special frozen treats.

For animals, this ice cream is not only food but also enrichment, i.e. a stimulus for their physical and mental activity. For visitors, such variety is an experience – especially when they can also refresh themselves. People can buy ice cream at thirteen places in the Prague Zoo area. There is a choice of packaged, scooped, and spun ice cream, including lactose-free variants.

For Indian elephants, special ice cream is not only food variety, but also entertainment and distraction. Photo by Petr Hamerník, Prague Zoo

Ice Cream Refreshments at the Animals on Saturday 24th August

• 10:00 a.m. Honeyeaters – close-up indoor exhibition in Africa
• 10.00 family group of lowland gorillas – Dja Reserve
• 10.30 nestors kea – Rákos’ pavilion
• 11.00 polar bears – Exhibition of polar bears
• 1.30 p.m. South African sea lions – Sea lion exhibition
• 2.00 p.m. chipmunks – Monkey Islands
• 14.00 African brush dogs and Brazzo cats – Reserve Dja
• 14.30 Indian elephants – Elephant Valley
• 15.00 male group of lowland gorillas – Méfou Centre

South African sea lions receive fish or squid frozen into ice cubes during a veterinary training demonstration at 1:30 p.m. Photo by Petr Hamerník, Prague Zoo

Visitors can buy a scoop of ice cream at Supa, U Hrocha, Bororo Reserve, Gočárové houses, and the Trilobit snack bar. Tapas are waiting for them at U Gibona and at the Gaston restaurant, with lactose-free versions of sorbet being offered along with tap ice cream at, for example, the ice bear stand, Obora, Černohouska, and the Gulab and Oceán restaurants. Popsicles and crushed ice are also on offer in Oceán or Gaston.

Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies Markéta Pekarová Adamová organized a seminar on the topic “Prospects of change? Russia two and a half years since the aggression against Ukraine” at the building of the Chamber of Deputies, in Prague.

The moderator of the event was Martin Churavý – Spoke man and
Press Secretary of the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies.

The seminar started with opening remarks by Markéta Pekarová Adamová, Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies of the Parliament of the Czech Republic.

3 panels took place:

 “Russian Economy Under the Weight of Sanctions”

o Karel Svoboda, Russian

o Miroslav Karas, columnist and journalist

o Michael Romancov, political geographer

Moderator: Andrea Michalcová, Center for an Informed Society

Interview “Russian propaganda and sport as one of the hybrid tools”

o Dominik Hašek, former hockey goalkeeper

o Otakar Foltýn, government coordinator of strategic communication

Moderator: Miroslav Karas, columnist and journalist

“Prospect for change? The Kremlin and the Russians”

o Zhanna Nemtsova, journalist and social activist

 o Andrey Shary, journalist

Moderator: Gabriela Svárovská, former diplomat and journalist

Barbora and Michal Chalup with their four-year-old son Matěj and his friend Dominik became the millionth visitors to the Prague Zoo in 2024. Photo by Oliver Le Que, Prague Zoo

This year’s millionth visitor came to the Prague Zoo today at 10.02 – more precisely, a married couple with two children. The Chalup family from Prague entered the zoo grounds through its newest entrance on Sklenářka near the Dja Reserve. For their unique ranking, they received a voucher for an experience program at the mountain bongs and special gifts, while both children were most happy with a stuffed tapir and an orangutan. Prague Zoo welcomed its millionth visitor on the same day as in the last pre-Covid year of 2019.

“We go to the Prague Zoo several times a year, if we can, even three times. We usually look forward to the meerkats, penguins and giraffes the most, but today we can’t wait especially for the baby gorillas,” revealed the jubilee visitors. “But we have to say that we like to come back here not only for the animals, but also for the food. So we are also looking forward to a good lunch today,” both spouses agreed.

The Prague Zoo is enjoying excellent attendance this year, especially thanks to rare and attractive additions – baby gorillas, orangutans, giraffes, wombats and sloths. Another attraction is the Mongolian Gobi exhibition, which opened this year, or newly bred species such as attractive fos animals. The Prague Zoo is a frequent excursion destination in the summer despite the hot days, during which it cools its visitors and animals with tons of ice cubes, numerous snails or ice cream.

Empowering Women Mentoring opens applications for talented women for the seventh time from companies. Both companies with their teams and women themselves can participate. The program is suitable for fulfilling ESG goals

Prague, August 22, 2024 – Business & Professional Women CR (BPWCR) is proud to announce that on October 11, it will officially launch the 7th year of the Empowering Women Mentoring program, which brings a unique opportunity for companies and individual participants to support female leadership, develop women’s career opportunities while meeting key ESG ‘S’ targets. 60 women and 10 companies have the chance to use it this year. Applications are now open and places are filling up fast.

Empowering Women Mentoring (EWM) has become an indispensable platform for talented aspiring female managers to advance their careers. The program is unique in its approach, the basis of which is the speed mentoring method – a dynamic, effective, and interactive way to transfer experience and knowledge between mentors and mentees, in sharing experiences between participants, and in networking.

What is speed mentoring and why is it a key element of our program?

Speed ​​mentoring, as developed in 2010 by the president of the organization, is a unique method of education that combines speed, intensity and focus on the specific needs of the mentee. “Unlike traditional mentoring, where the relationship between mentor and mentee is long-term and broader in scope, speed mentoring offers intensive and narrowly focused sessions where mentees receive valuable advice and feedback from multiple mentors in a short period of time while benefiting from the sharing of ideas and the experiences of other participants. This format allows women to gain different perspectives and apply the acquired knowledge in practice more quickly,” says Lenka Šťastná, president of BPWCR and author of the speed mentoring method.

Thanks to this approach, the participants not only develop on a professional level, but also build an important network of contacts, which is crucial for their career growth. Companies that join the program have the opportunity to provide their employees with access to this unique form of education, which can significantly contribute to their professional development and overall satisfaction.

Why should companies get involved?

By engaging in EWM programs, companies can significantly strengthen their ESG strategy. Nowadays, it is increasingly important to demonstrate a commitment to sustainable and ethical business, not only in terms of environmental protection, but also the promotion of equal opportunities, talent development and increasing the proportion of women in top management. According to a McKinsey study, there are currently only 4% of women in the position of CEO and 11% of top management in Czech companies. A number of large employers aim to increase the representation of women in management to at least 30% by 2030.

This program offers companies the opportunity to actively contribute to the fulfillment of these sustainable social responsibility goals. Supporting female leadership is both a matter of equal conditions and a competitive advantage – studies show that companies with diversified leadership achieve better financial results and have higher innovation potential. Companies with more than 30% women in management are likely to increase their profitability by up to 26%. Building employee loyalty through an employment policy set in this way reduces fluctuations, and thus recruitment costs, and increases the company’s attractiveness on the labor market.

How to get involved?

Registration for companies and individual participants is currently underway. Companies can nominate their employees to the program or join as partners and support the entire project. Participants will gain access to a series of mentoring sessions covering important development topics and networking to help them develop their skills and increase their visibility in the industry.

Feedback from previous years

The participants of the previous six years of the EWM program appreciated not only the opportunity to receive valuable advice from experienced professionals, but also the atmosphere of mutual support and inspiration, which motivated them to further professional growth. “Speed ​​mentoring helped me quickly identify areas where I can grow professionally and gave me specific advice on how to do that,” said one of the participants from last year.

EWM supports individual women, but at the same time creates a wider impact on the entire society and organizations that choose to participate in the program. At BPWCR, we believe that an investment in the development of women’s potential is an investment in the future, and we look forward to the involvement of new companies and women in the seventh year of this exceptional evaluated program – the rate of satisfaction of participants with the program reaches 99% and 63% confirms increased self-confidence and courage to change.

For more information and to register, visit https://bpwcr.cz/empoweringwomen7/

Photo: Kristýna Maková, Radio Prague International

Venus of Dolní Věstonice, a Stone-Age ceramic sculpture of a female figure considered one of the oldest pieces of art in the world, was made from fragments of rocks and tiny fossils, not mammoth bones as previously believed. The discovery was made by experts from the Moravian Museum in Brno using micro-CT scanning. I discussed the findings, which have been published in the Journal of Archaeological Science, with the head of the research team Petr Neruda:

“It’s a rather complicated story.

See more here.

Author: Ruth Fraňková

The Committee for European Affairs of the Czech lower house has approved Industry and Trade Minister Jozef Sikela as the Czech nominee for EU commissioner.

See more here.

Author: Daniela Lazarová

Illustrative photo: Max Fischer, Pexels

While some European countries, namely France, Italy, the UK, and the Netherlands, have totally banned the use of mobile phones in schools, there is still no clear consensus on this issue in Czechia. At the moment, each school decides for itself which position to take, without a coordinated approach from the government or the Czech School Inspectorate. Some schools allow them to be used in class, others only during breaks. But some have started to take a more radical approach.

The town of Vsetín in the Zlín Region is introducing a ban on using mobile phones in primary schools from September.

See more here.

Author: Anna Fodor

Photo: Miloš Turek, Radio Prague International

The Usti nad Labem Region has many attractions but there is nothing to beat the breathtaking beauty of the sandstone rocks of Bohemian Switzerland and the Pravčice gate of sandstone created through millions of years of erosion.

The history of the Pravčice Gate goes back to the Mesozoic era – approximately a hundred million years ago, when the region known as Bohemian Switzerland lay at the bottom of an ocean.

See more here.

Author: Daniela Lazarová

Photo: Dominik Jůn, Radio Prague International

David Bradbury is a former director general of the British Library. In 1968, the foreign language student found himself in Czechoslovakia right after the Soviet-led invasion. Despite the unusual times, he formed lifelong friendships with a number of Czechs, and an ongoing affinity for the country. I caught up with David during a recent visit to Prague and began by asking how he ended up in the Czech capital in September 1968.

“I was born in Manchester, England, in 1947.

See more here.

Author: Dominik Jůn

The Prague Metro Authority is alerting the public to the fact that if a person falls onto the tracks in the metro there is an emergency button which will immediately stop an oncoming train.

See more here.

Author: Daniela Lazarová

Photo: Tomáš Adamec/Jan Bartoněk, Czech Radio

On August 21, 1968 Soviet-led Warsaw Pact troops invaded Czechoslovakia, crushing the Prague Spring and ushering in a long period of political and moral decline. More than 130 people died during the invasion and thousands fled the country in the years that followed. The late Czech filmmakers Jiří Menzel and Miloš Forman share their personal memories of that fateful night, reflecting on the shock, fear, and surreal experiences.

The occupation of Czechoslovakia in 1968 was an event of immense global significance, but for millions of Czechs and Slovaks, it was deeply personal.

See more here.

Author: Vít Pohanka

Photo: Studio Matouš

Vítězslava Kaprálová was born into a musical family; her father was even a pupil of Leoš Janáček, providing her with a strong foundation for success. For her graduation project at the Prague Conservatory, she composed the Military Sinfonietta, which was performed by the Czech Philharmonic—an exceptional achievement, as it is unlikely the orchestra has performed another graduation work since. Not only that, she conducted the performance herself, with President Edvard Beneš attending the premiere.

Kaprálová was both a composer and a conductor, a rare combination even today.

See more here.

Photo: René Volfík, iROZHLAS.cz

Top officials gathered outside Czech Radio at middday on Wednesday to recall the battle that took place there in the first hours of the Soviet-led invasion on August 21, 1968 and to pay homage to those who died defending the Czechoslovak Radio building.

President Petr Pavel laid a wreath under the plaque with the names of people who died defending Czechoslovak Radio in August of 1968.

See more here.

Author: Vít Pohanka

Illustrative photo: Surprising_SnapShots, Pixabay, Pixabay License

Czech children and teenagers are crafting their own language, filled with slang and new expressions, often borrowed from English. The internet speeds up the creation of new words and phrases, which can be confusing for people who aren’t active online. In particular, it can be difficult for their parents and grandparents to understand.

“ ‘Boomer’ I know, that’s me.

See more here.

Author: Jakub Ferenčík

Photo: Tomáš Minarčík, Czech Radio

A small pond in Jeseník is attracting plenty of attention. Kurt Gebauer, a provocative Czech sculptor, painter and lifelong fighter for better public space, has selected it for one of his latest public installations.

What was a common, everyday sight for the locals has become a colourful topic of debate.

See more here.

Author: Daniela Lazarová

Part of the revenue from frozen Russian assets in the European Union will be spent on the purchase of ammunition for Ukraine, within the Czech shells-for Ukraine initiative, Defence Minister Jana Černochová announced on the X network on Tuesday.

See more here.

Author: Daniela Lazarová

Photo: Film Servis Festival Karlovy Vary

The first days of the Soviet-led invasion of Czechoslovakia were closely tied to the Czechoslovak Radio building in front of which bloody clashes took place and at least 15 civilians were killed. The newly released film Waves, inspired by the true story of a group of journalists from the radio’s foreign service section, focuses on these traumatic events and the preceding Prague Spring period.

The story of the journalists working for the Czechoslovak Radio’s international editorial offices during the invasion and in the months leading up to the event is the focus of a newly released film called Waves, directed by Jiří Mádl and co-produced by Czech Radio.

See more here.

Author: Ruth Fraňková

The third edition of the NeverMore 68 festival at the Prague Exhibition Grounds will mark the 56th anniversary of the Soviet-led invasion of Czechoslovakia on August 21, 1968.

See more here.

Author: Daniela Lazarová

The 14^th  edition of Prague Pride, an annual festival celebrating the LGBTQ community, took place in Prague on Saturday 10^th August 2024.

The theme this year was “equal marriage”.

Tens of thousands of people, including several Ministers, Czech politicians, members of Prague’s diplomatic community, and big commercial companies and organizations, took part in the parade, which ran from the lower part of Wenceslas Square via Celenta st., Old Town Square, and Parizka st., to Letná Park.

The diplomatic community had a great representation from almost all embassies.

The celebrations continued at Letná, with live music and other events, until 10 pm.

Watch the video and the pictures from this colorful event.

On the occasion of the 57th Anniversary of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, H.E. Mr. Duong Hoai Nam Ambassador of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam to the Czech Republic Chair of the ASEAN Committee in Prague hosted a reception at the beautiful Hartig Garden.

A cultural show from each ASEAN country followed the ceremony.

Happy Birthday ASEAN countries.

The mother of the cub is the female Faraa, the male Johan became the thirty-fold father posthumously. Photo by Oliver Le Que, Prague Zoo

On Saturday, August 10, we will christen a Baby Girl Northern Nubian giraffe at the Prague Zoo. The cub was born at the beginning of July, but visitors could not see it for the first time until later due to an unstable front limb.

The name, which is traditionally chosen by breeders, will be unveiled by the zoo at 11:00 a.m. at the viewpoint near the African House. Her godparents will be basketball representatives Ilona Burgrová and Iva Večeřová, who won, the silver medals at the World Championships.

The little giraffe managed the difficult beginning of life thanks to its tenacity and the care of its mother and keepers. Photo by Oliver Le Que, Prague Zoo

Soon after the birth, the breeders noticed a complication on the front leg of the little bay girl giraffe, so she spent the first fortnight in the facility on a hard floor with only her mother. Thanks to the correctly chosen procedure and the suction of copious breast milk, the limb soon became stronger even without the intervention of a veterinarian. Visitors can now observe the little giraffe in the outdoor enclosure of the African House not only with the rest of the giraffe herd but also with its other inhabitants.

The cub is the 30th descendant of the legendary male Johan, who died at a respectable age last July. At the same time, the little giraffe, which was brought into the world by the female Pharoah, became the 86th baby giraffe at the Prague Zoo and the 99th giraffe in the history of breeding these iconic ungulates at the Prague Zoo.

In cooperation with the city of Almere and the Rijksvastgoedbedrijf, MVRDV present the development strategy for Almere Oosterwold. Free design and construction will transform an area of 43km2. Limits are set to ensure the rural character of the area is maintained: 18% construction, 8% roads, 13% public green, 2% water and 59% urban agriculture. An individual’s creativity is limitless within this framework – who knows what forms the houses will take!

Freeland is proposed as a radically liberated place where you have the right to define your own living space. Freeland celebrates individual desire: You can build whatever you want; in whatever shape you like; you decide how to use your space and how to behave. You can build a home of your dreams – a dome, a castle, or a simple prefab house.

If you are happy living in a tent, that’s okay too. One can call it I-Land. If you like, a software can help you to make your architecture and helps to realize ideas, the HouseMaker© will assist you in the design, arrangement and construction of the supplies and cost management.

It is a growing attempt to make a masterplan collectively. By giving these initiatives step by step a place, the area will gradually transform the existing situation to a diverse living and working landscape. Based on the existing qualities and conditions– roads, windmills, water channels, forest ridges, buildings, and the piping-system – it will evolve bottom-up. Freeland develops as a rich assemblage of originality where everything is possible, and where advanced urban planning is also very basic.

Read more here.

We are pleased to present the forty-seventh instalment of our newsletter, which brings you interesting facts from the world of competition law for the period from April to June 2024. Regular readers will know that this is a purely subjective selection of events that we found interesting this time around.

Lounging on the beach, relaxing between bike rides or enjoying a glass of chilled rosé in the evening calls for interesting reading, and that’s what we hope to provide you, competition law fans. This time we focus on anti-competitive agreements, both horizontal and vertical. You will learn about new trends in antitrust (employees and sports), the old favourite resale price maintenance and particularities (such as monitoring competitors’ prices or restricting cross-border trade).

When a successful leniency applicant challenges a decision

If the company was a successful leniency applicant, it may not be appropriate to bring an action against the relevant decision of the competition authority. This was the case for CERP, a Belgian pharmaceutical distributor, which appealed against a decision to fine it EUR 0.8 million for a cartel agreement on margins. The original fine of EUR 1.6 million was reduced by 50% under a leniency programme. The Belgian Competition Authority responded to CERP’s action by asking the court to annul the reduction of the fine if the action was unsuccessful. This made it too risky for CERP to continue the proceedings and it withdrew the case instead. In this way, the competition authority protects the functionality of its leniency programme.

Forthcoming amendment to the Czech Competition Act

The Czech Competition Authority is also seeking to ensure the effectiveness of its leniency programme. Our regular readers will have noticed that it is also doing this through the forthcoming amendment to the Competition Protection Act (which we have written about in more detail here). In the meantime, the Czech Competition Authority has submitted a text of the amendment act which is reflects the outline we presented to you. A comment procedure took place in June. There were a number of comments and suggestions, so we are curious to see if the draft will be amended.

Robert discussed the need for the amendment and its risks with the Chairman of the Czech Competition Authority in the radio programme “Pro a proti” (Pro and Con) on ČRo Plus.

Employee-related agreements

As you will have noticed from our previous posts, the investigation of anti-competitive agreements involving employees is becoming a trend and a permanent feature of the antitrust authorities’ activities. This spring was no different.

First, it should be noted that in addition to the Czech Competition Authority, the Slovak Competition Authority has also started to focus on employee agreements. In May, it initiated administrative proceedings against a Slovak business association for adopting a code of ethics that included provisions restricting the hiring of employees. We are of course monitoring the case.

Then, in April and May, the Portuguese competition authority continued to pursue an agreement by large technology consultancies not to hire employees and not to make unsolicited offers to employees of competing companies. In the past it has already fined two companies EUR 1.3 million and EUR 2.5 million respectively for this behaviour, and in April it fined another company EUR 278,000. The Portuguese Competition Authority reduced the fines of all these companies in a settlement procedure. The last two cartel members (belonging to the same group) that refused to settle are still under investigation. A Statement of Objections was sent to them in May. A fine, which is likely to be significantly higher, can be expected by the end of the year.

In April, the Lithuanian Regional Administrative Court upheld a EUR 969,060 fine imposed on the Lithuanian Association of Real Estate Agents and its 39 members. The association’s code of ethics contained provisions that prevented estate agents from taking over each other’s brokers.

Read more here.

The reform of the review of public contracts is intended to speed up and make the decision-making of disputes between contracting authorities and those interested in public contracts faster and more efficient, which today takes place in up to five stages. Unfortunately, in connection with the reform in the public space, there are several inaccuracies and misleading statements that we would like to set the record straight.

1. The reform proposal received hundreds of comments in the interdepartmental comment procedure, so it is a bad proposal.

For similarly complex proposals and laws, there may be several thousand comments. Their content is especially important. Specific comments can be agreeable, disagreeable, grammatical, or can be a so-called “no comment” comment. It is often also an explicit support for the reform. The inter-ministerial comment procedure of the reform on the review of public contracts takes place in a completely standard way, and the comments are settled gradually.

The reform is being reviewed by legal experts, representatives of contracting authorities and contractors. In the last year, over 30 meetings were held, which were mostly attended by representatives of the Office for the Protection of Economic Competition (ÚOHS). The effort of the Ministry for Regional Development is a faster and more predictable review of public contracts based on the consensus of the majority of the professional public.

2. The current public procurement review system is good and no changes are needed.

Each day that a public contract is delayed in the review procedure will cost approximately CZK 6 million. Every year, the price of orders increases by tens of billions of crowns. The delay in public contracts affects the residents of many places who are waiting for new transport and other important constructions as well as other public projects. The current system is unsustainable. Therefore, our goal is to speed up the public procurement review system.

3. ÚOHS proposed its own changes to the review procedure, but the Ministry for Regional Development listened to them. Instead, he is preparing a reform that no one wants.

The Ministry for Regional Development incorporated a number of initiatives that arose from the proposal of the ÚOHS. What could not be agreed with was the effort to further strengthen monocratic decision-making in the form of a full appeal (i.e. the possibility of completely changing the decision) and the setting of deposits for the contracting authority as well.

The reform proposal of the Ministry for Regional Development is a response to the requests of contracting authorities, contractors, and anti-corruption organizations. The Ministry for Regional Development based its decision on the recommendations of experts, proven foreign practice, and the decision of the Supreme Administrative Court (6 As 338/2021 – 52).

4. The ÚOHS decides on approximately a percentage of orders out of their total number of approx. 17,000 per year. The chairman of the ÚOHS alone decides on only half a percent of them in the 2nd stage.

It is not only the total number of contracts that is important but also the financial value of those that are interrupted by the review procedure and their importance for the state or local government. In 2022, the chairman of the ÚOHS decided on the dissolution of 45% of all disputes. It is highly unusual for a single person to decide on a review of tens of billions of public money.

Contracting authorities are afraid of lengthy decision-making by the ÚOHS, so most public contracts are awarded mainly on price, not on quality.

5. The monocratic decision-making model is quite common in the Czech Republic.

No other civil servant alone decides on dozens of cases of national or regional importance and at the same time on tens of billions a year. All comparative analyzes show that nowhere else in the EU does one person have such power. Everywhere else, the office, senates or commissions decide.

In 2022, the Chairman of the ÚOHS decided in 85 dissolution proceedings on 75 public contracts. He always receives the recommendation of the decomposition committee, but the final decision ultimately rests with the chairman of the ÚOHS, who can deviate from the recommendation. On average, there are two decisions on disputes in public contracts for every week of the year. In addition, the chairman of the ÚOHS also makes decisions in proceedings on offenses and other agendas (economic competition, significant market power, public support, transport infrastructure), represents the office and manages it in a managerial manner. This requires a high degree of expertise and the capacity to read the documents and consider all the circumstances. That is why the Ministry for Regional Development proposed to abolish the decomposition stage in proceedings before the ÚOHS and to strengthen the quality of decision-making by introducing three-member panels.

6. In the Czech Republic, there is always two-instance decision-making, there is no logic in introducing single-instance decision-making for public contracts.

Historically, the review according to the Administrative Code is actually two-instance. However, this will not be a new thing, single-instance is already introduced in more than 10 administrative proceedings today. According to the Ministry of Regional Development, this is a logical and effective way to speed up the review and reduce the bureaucratic burden.

7. The reform is too big a change that shakes the entire review system and the decision-making practice is discarded.

The reform adjusts the method of evidence and specifies the rules for parties to the dispute. The ÚOHS will continue to have the opportunity to supplement the evidence, but it should be in exceptional cases. Today, this only happens in about a third of cases, the rest is due to the activity of the parties to the dispute.

8. The Ministry for Regional Development wants to implement the so-called Croatian model in the Czech Republic, which is criticized even by the chairwoman of the Croatian office.

The Ministry for Regional Development does not want to implement the Croatian model. For 17 years, Croatia has been making decisions in councils led by the chairman and 2 vice-chairmen of the State Commission, in which 2 other members are always appointed by the parliament. According to the Croatian experience, political influence in practice reduces their expertise and creates dissonance in opinions.

The Ministry for Regional Development proposed a fundamentally different model. The members of the Senate would be elected by a commission with an emphasis on their expertise. The ÚOHS and the SAO would also have their representatives in the commission. For the first term of office, the members of the senate would automatically become experts from among the current directors of the ÚOHS, in order to maintain continuity. Decision-making would be linked to specific recognized authorities. The proposal of the Ministry for Regional Development contains clear safeguards so that the Senates do not decide differently in the same case. Clients and contractors must know what they can expect from the review, both in terms of time and material.

9. In Germany, they make decisions faster, but these are only over-limit orders, that cannot be compared with the Czech practice, they have a different model. But 40 days, as claimed by the Ministry of Regional Development, is not even available in Germany.

Chambers in Germany make decisions significantly faster than in the Czech Republic, although they only decide on over-limit orders, i.e. the more important ones, which are often more complex than under-limit orders. And yet they manage the review significantly (about 4x) faster and with a smaller apparatus than ours. 40 days is a figure from Germany’s report to the European Commission, and the Ministry of Regional Development verified it by recalculating the length of the decision of the Federal Chamber for Federal Procurement (VK Bund). It is not clear why and on what basis this data is disputed.

10. ÚOHS decides quickly enough. According to the reform, the decision will be made in one instance, and the contracting authority will not be able to conclude a contract with the winning contractor for 15 days after the final decision unless the Regional Court in Brno issues a preliminary measure. Decision-making by the Regional Court in Brno takes about 550 days on average.

Currently, orders pending before the ÚOHS are blocked for an average of 5 months. If dissolution is filed (45% of disputes in 2022), the wait increases to 7 to 9 months. Contracts are blocked today even where the proposal has fundamental defects or the deposit has not been paid. This is what the Ministry for Regional Development wants to eliminate through reform.

In addition, the ÚOHS should always communicate its preliminary legal opinion to the parties within 20 working days from the submission of the proposal, so that the parties know how the panel views their dispute. Abroad, this is the usual way to allow the complainant to withdraw his proposal and save the deposit, or for the contracting authority to make corrections in time. Public contracts would thus be blocked for a significantly shorter period of time and the ÚOHS would be less burdened with decision-making. Only where the complainant did not withdraw the proposal himself, but did not succeed before the Office and continued to defend himself before the court, the tender would continue to be blocked. For this, the complainant would have to pay the deposit again and the Regional Court in Brno would have to issue a preliminary measure.

The average duration of proceedings before the Regional Court in Brno is misleading, as it applies to all proceedings. Today, there are only a small number of cases involving disputes that block the procurement process per year, and the Ministry of Regional Development proposes that the Regional Court in Brno decide on them within 60, maximum 90 days.

The five most important archaeological areas of Prague Castle, which are inaccessible to the vast majority of the public, will be guided by a new mobile application called Prague Castle Archeology. He will acquaint them with the history of individual monuments and show them how the premises have developed over the centuries. Experts from the Institute of Archeology of the Academy of Sciences worked on the application in cooperation with the Department of Monument Preservation of the Office of the President of the Republic.

Under the Prague Castle, the remains of buildings from the turn of the ninth and tenth to fifteenth centuries rest under reinforced concrete structures on several thousand square meters. Many visitors to the Castle had no idea of ​​their existence – those who knew, had not had the opportunity to get to know them until now. The situation is changing with a new application covering the five most important archaeological sites: the chapel of the Virgin Mary, III. courtyard – Large and Small excavations, the crypt of the Cathedral of St. Vita and the monastery and basilica of St. George.

With the help of 3D scans, those interested can not only examine individual buildings in detail, but also see how they changed over time and the history of their research on a timeline. In this way, he can virtually walk through almost 5,000 m2.

Development work lasted four years. The application can be used at Prague Castle as a guide, but also anywhere outside the premises.

It is free to download on the usual platforms in Czech, English and German.

Link to the press release, including an illustrative video: Into the inaccessible underground of the Castle. With the new application Prague Castle Archaeological – Prague Castle

https://www.hrad.cz/cs/pro-media/tiskove-zpravy/aktualni-tiskove-zpravy/aplikace-18046

On the occasion of the 203^rd Anniversary of the Independence of the Republic of Peru and the 102^nd year of diplomatic relations between the Czech Republic and the Republic of Peru. Ambassador of the Republic of Peru H.E. Mr. Nestor Francisco POPOLIZIO BARDALES and Mrs. Irma Rios de Popolizio Hosted a reception at the beautiful garden of the Ambassador’s residence.

Mr. Jiri Kozak – the first deputy minister of foreign affairs of the Czech Republic was the honored guest.

Watch the video with the speech of the Ambassador of the Republic of Peru H.E. Mr. Nestor Francisco POPOLIZIO BARDALES and of Mr. Jiri Kozak – the first deputy minister of foreign affairs of the Czech Republic.

And enjoy Peruvian music with the group of my compatriot Vlado Ulrich.

Viva el Peru! Viva la Republica Checa!

The Ambassador of the Republic of Moldova H.E Mr. Alexandru Codreanu and his spouse Svetlana Codreanu who was one of the piler of the DSA, hosted the beautiful garden of the Embassy farewell reception.

Here are selected sections of H.E Mr. Alexandru Codreanu and H.E. Most Reverend Jude Thaddeus OKOLO speeches at the event.

We will miss you

On the occasion of the 25^th Anniversary of the Enthronement of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Morocco H.E. Ms. Hanane SAADI hosted a reception at the beautiful garden of the residence.

Mr. Jiri Kozak – the first deputy minister of foreign affairs of the Czech Republic, was the honored speaker.

Mr. Vaclav Klaus the former President of the Czech Republic and his spouse Livia were the honor guests.

Watch the video with the speech of the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Morocco H.E. Ms. Hanane SAADI and of Mr. Jiri Kozak – the first deputy minister of foreign affairs of the Czech Republic.

Long live the King!

On the occasion of the 72^nd year of the Anniversary of the Revolution and the 102^nd year of diplomatic relations between the Arab Republic of Egypt and the Czech Republic, H.E. Mr. Mahmoud Mostafa Afifi hosts a reception at the Embassy’s beautiful garden in Vinohrady.

Mr. Vaclav Klaus – Ex-President of the CR and, Mr. Eduard Hulicius – Deputy minister of foreign affairs of the Czech Republic were the honored guests.

H.E. Ms. SUZILAH BINTI MOHD SIDEK – Ambassador of Malaysia, H.E. Ms. Sonia Regina GUIMARAES GOMES – Ambassador of Brazil and H.E. Ms. Kenssy Dwi EKANINGSIH – Ambassador of Indonesia

Watch the video with the speech of H.E. Mr. Mahmoud Mostafa Afifi -Ambassador of the Arab Republic of Egypt and Mr. Eduard Hulicius – Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic.

Mobi clings to the rope in the exhibition and observes visitors to the Dja Reserve pavilion. Photo by Oliver Le Que, Prague Zoo

Female gorilla Mobi, born in January at the Prague Zoo, is the current star of the Reserve Dja pavilion. She is learning to walk and hang on a rope, while her mother Duni allows her to go on increasingly daring expeditions around the area. The almost six-month-old cub is also trying to communicate with the cloaked gueres that inhabit the same exhibit, and through the glass with the visitors as well. Mobi also started looking for contact with the second cub, the two-and-a-half-month-old Gaia.

“The period that we have all been looking forward to here is coming. Baby gorillas are finally starting to interact,” says the director of the Prague Zoo, Miroslav Bobek. “As beautiful as it is to see the two cubs together, perhaps even more impressive is tiny Mobi playing with her father, the mighty Kisum. A male silverback allows his firstborn daughter to touch his face and rummage through his fur. It never ceases to amaze me how strong the bonds these primates form with each other.”

Baby gorillas already know about each other and spend time together more and more often. From left, Gaia, Mobi and her mother Duni. Photo by Petr Hamerník, Prague Zoo

The female Mobi, whose half-year birthday awaits on July 2, is already trying to swallow the food of adult gorillas – vegetables, leaves or a bite from branches, in addition to sucking mother’s milk. So far she just chewed it up and spit it out.

“Mobi waddles around the exhibit and when a gorilla drops a bite from its mouth, she tries to chew it herself. She also swallows and digests the new solid food – the change in color of her droppings is proof for us,” explains Martin Vojáček, chief primate keeper of the Prague Zoo. “Gaia is only sucking milk so far, but we just found out that her two lower incisors have already cut through. Both cubs are developing completely healthily and the situation in the whole troop is very calm. It’s still true that eight-year-old Ajabu is the biggest provocateur, and it’s nice that his wish to play with the cubs is slowly coming true,” he adds.

It is best for visitors to the Prague Zoo to come to the Dja Reserve around 10 am or 3 pm. Gorillas are active feeding at that time. During the current summer temperatures, a family of lowland gorillas can also be found in a large outdoor enclosure. The whole group prefers to go there after 4 p.m. With the exception of the indoor pavilions, the Prague Zoo is currently open until 9 p.m.

At the age of less than half a year, Mobi is very inquisitive and under the increasingly benevolent supervision of her mother Duni (right) shows an interest in her surroundings. The female Kijivu (and also Moba’s great-grandmother, left) lends her daughter Gaia a careful touch without any problems. Photo by Petr Hamerník, Prague Zoo

On Wednesday, June 26, 2024, Ondřej Soška, ​​general commissioner of the Czech participation in the world exhibition EXPO 2025, was elected to the so-called Steering Committee. He thus became one of the six representatives of the European Union, who will have greater influence in negotiations with the Japanese organizers and will be able to better promote Czech and European interests

“I greatly value being elected to the steering committee, and at the same time, I feel a great obligation to those who have placed their trust in me. I know from my predecessors that the Steering Committee is a key body in the preparatory phase of the World Exhibition and during it. At the beginning of June, we organized a successful coordination meeting of the participating states of the European Union at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Prague. We wanted to show on the one hand that we take the Czech participation in the world exhibition in Osaka, Japan extremely seriously, but also that we are able to organize a high-quality and interesting event in the way we plan to do it in the Czech national pavilion next year,” explains the general commissioner of the Czech participation in the world exhibition Ondřej Soška and adds: “Representatives of European countries also noticed this fact and suggested me as a nominee for the steering committee.”

Commissioner-General Soška was elected to the Steering Committee during the International Meeting of Participating Countries, which took place this week in Nara, Japan, a regional business center and tourist town about 30 kilometers from Osaka. They will be among the representatives from France, Italy, Holland, Romania, and Slovenia (for the EU), but also for example the USA, Great Britain, Switzerland or Brazil.

The Steering Committee is a management committee composed exclusively of commissioners general of the participating countries, who are elected from among the member states of the International Bureau for Exhibitions (BIE). It currently has 26 members. The committee represents the interests of the member countries, manages the discussion with the host country, and is also supposed to be the closest partner of the Japan Association for EXPO 2025. Its goal is to make daily operations as easy as possible and make preparations for the world exhibition more efficient.

At the beginning of the first meeting of the Steering Committee, its members elected the chairman, the Swiss Commissioner General Manuel Salchli. He has been involved in world exhibitions for almost 20 years and is one of the most experienced members of the committee. Vice-chairmen became commissioners general from China, Mali, and Peru. However, the first meeting was not only a protocol meeting, but given that there are only 290 days left until the start of EXPO 2025, the committee discussed with representatives of the organizers a whole range of issues that arose from the meeting within the framework of the two-day International Meeting of Participating Countries. Among the topics discussed were operational issues of national pavilions, opportunities for international cooperation at business conferences or rules for the operation of commercial spaces.

About the Czech pavilion at EXPO 2025

In December 2022, after more than twenty years, the Office of the Commissioner General announced an open anonymous architectural competition for the design of the national pavilion for EXPO 2025. 38 competition teams applied for it, from which an expert jury led by the world-renowned architect Eva Jiřična selected the winning design in March 2023 in the shape of a glass spiral by Apropos Architects. The supporting structure of the building will be made up of modern wooden panels, while the facade will be made of art glass, which has a centuries-old tradition in the Czech Republic. The national pavilion will offer a worthy background for the Czech participation in EXPO 2025, which will be held from April to October 2025 on the artificial island of Yumeshima in the Osaka Bay. The pavilion will have a permanent exhibition, a multifunctional auditorium, facilities for business meetings, a restaurant, a VIP lounge, and in front of the pavilion there will be a relaxation area with a view of the sea for visitors.

About Czech participation in EXPO 2025

The Czech Republic will participate as an independent state in the EXPO world exhibition for the sixth time. Ondřej Soška, ​​who won the selection procedure of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs with his concept and theme “Talent and creativity for life”, holds the position of general commissioner from September 2022. The Czech Republic should be presented in Osaka not only with what the Japanese know very well and have admired for a long time, for example Czech glass and classical music, but especially with Czech innovations, nanotechnologies, promising startups, and regional talent.

You can find more information on the website of the Czech participation in the world exhibition EXPO 2025. You can also follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.

From January 2023, the Office of the General Commissioner is part of the network of Czech Centers.

On the occasion of the 50^th Anniversary of Diplomatic Relations between the Kingdom of Thailand and the Czech Republic, The Ambassador of the Kingdom of Thailand H.E. Mr. Suwat  Kaewsook and Mrs. Patcharin Naewsook host a Thai cultural event in the beautiful garden of the Thai Ambassador’s Resident.

H.E Mr. Václav Klaus Former President of the Czech Republic, his spouse Mrs. Livia Klausová, and Mr. Jiří Kozák – Deputy minister of foreign affairs of the Czech Republic were the honored guests.

The guests enjoyed Traditional Thai Music, Dance, and Khon masked dance as part of exploring the charm of Thailand from a very talented young Thai band.

Watch the Video from the event:

On the occasion of the Statehood Day of the Republic of Slovenia and the end of the Ambassador duty in the Czech Republic, H.E. Mrs. Tanja Strniša and Mr. Toni Strniša host a reception at the Embassy’s beautiful garden.

Mr. Eduard Hulicius – Deputy minister of foreign affairs of the Czech Republic was the honored guest.

Watch the video with the speech of H.E. Mr. H.E. Mrs. Tanja Strniša – Ambassador of the Republic of Slovenia and Mr. Eduard Hulicius – Deputy minister of foreign affairs of the Czech Republic.

We will miss the Ambassador and Toni.

We walked through the large acclimatization enclosure in Kazakhstan’s Golden Steppe and looked around in vain for the three Przewalski’s horses that we released here. Finally, we noticed a movement in the distance. But it was only a solitary saiga.

I was beginning to worry about what could have happened. David flew the drone to check the parts of the enclosure that were out of our sight. Again nothing. And then, to my delight, three horses’ heads emerged from the tall reeds at the watering hole. Zorro, Ypsilonka and “my” Zeta II. All three Przewalski’s horses looked at us, they came closer as if they wanted to get a better look at us, and measuredly ran away. After two days and three nights they were at home in the enclosure.

Zorro in the acclimatization enclosure in Alibi last Friday morning. Photo Miroslav Bobek.

But the four “Berlin“ mares, which we had released to the second enclosure the previous evening, were still very  restless and kept to the fence. We left them alone and went to load our luggage to move to Arkalyk and from there to return to Prague. However, three of our staff – including Ganbaatar, who has tremendous experience from Gobi – remained in the reintroduction centre together with our colleagues from Kazakhstan to monitor the acclimatization of the horses.

Despite the glory that accompanied the arrival of our first plane a few days ago, only the return to Arkalyk made us feel how local people appreciate our project. When I went out to have an espresso, guests in the coffee shop recognized me, started asking me questions and taking photos with me. When one of the soldiers went to have a haircut, he didn’t have to pay anything because he brought wild horses. And when my colleagues visited a local museum, they got free entry as well as the guide.

The return of the wild horses aroused enormous interest in Kazakhstan, and it gradually began to spill over the world. It is written about almost everywhere, which creates an interesting contrast to the lack of interest of part of the media in our country. On the other hand, the Instagram reel capturing releasing of Zeta II has already received 6 million of views.

It took us the whole of Sunday to return home by the military plane with two stopovers. Still on the way I received an unexpected message from the acclimatization centre in Alibi:  “We went to see Zorro and the others in the afternoon,” the researches Martina and Anna wrote. “After barely a half-an-hour of recording we saw the first mating attempt with Zeta II. According to all indications she is already in heat the fifth day after arrival, and she is receptive to the stallion.”

After my return, in between taking care for backlogs and writing thank you messages to all who helped us, more and more news is coming about our horses in Kazakhstan. Shortly: also “Berlin” mares started looking better and a camera trap captured them going to drink as well. And Zorro repeatedly mated Zeta II.

“Berlin” mares at the watering hole. Photo from camera trap.

By: Miroslav Bobek

To mark the end of our Presidency of the Council of the European Union 2024, The Ambassador of the Kingdom of Belgium H.E. Mr. Jurgen Van Meirvenne organize a Belgian Carillon Concert in front of the Rudolfinum (Namesti Jana Palacha), Prague 1.

Watch the Video from the event: