AuthorMartin Hladík

Let us start with the good news: Our photo by Meshulam Zisso won the 2^nd place in “the world in photography through the eyes of journalists”. It’s a big honor. Thank you to the FIJET SLOVAKIA and the judges.

The 8th prestigious annual international photography exhibition “TRAVEL & EMOTIONS” took place in Piešťany on 30^th June 2026.

This prestigious exhibition and competition is organized by FIJET SLOVAKIA  entitled “TRAVEL and EMOTIONS”.

This renowned event for journalists and authors who are dedicated to tourism is traditionally the culmination of an international competition.

This year, journalists from 11 countries participated, submitting a total of 118 photographs.

An international jury led by renowned photographer Ivan Čaniga, MQEP, selected the works that best captured this year’s theme “Moment of Surprise”, as well as the underlying idea and deeper message of the photograph.

This year’s winning images reflect, in particular, the relationship between man and nature, man and his environment, as well as the world of a child who discovers life through artifacts that have already lost their original purpose.

Visitors to the exhibition will have the unique opportunity to see a collection of the 24 best submissions

The Travel and Emotions exhibition traditionally starts its journey in Piešťany, at the Balnea Esplanade Hotel in Piešťany.

 In the autumn months, the exhibition moves abroad, where it represents the high level of Slovak and international photojournalism.

Previous editions were successfully presented in metropolises such as Berlin (Germany), Blagoevgrad (Bulgaria), Kuwait (Kuwait), and Budapest (Hungary). Looking back at the history of the competition, the first laureates of the highest awards were the Bulgarian journalist Georgi Kozhuharov and the Slovak journalist living in Canada Paul Stacho.

The results of the 8th year of the “TRAVEL and EMOTIONS” competition are:

Category: Solo photo 1

1st place: Rolf Holmgren (Sweden) – Miracles still happen!

2nd place: Meshulam Zisso (Czech Republic) – Curious Baby Gorilla

3rd place: Katarína Lišková (Slovakia) – Before Silence 2

Category: Photo story

Sole award: Ahmet Mostafa Yasser (Egypt) – Echoes of Emotion: Human Moments at the Pyramids

Category: Photography from Slovakia

Sole award: Táňa Rundesová (Slovakia) – The wonder of a little train driver: where do those tracks lead?

You can find more information: https://www.fijetslovakia.sk/novinka/136070/svet-vo-fotografii-ocami-novinarov

About our photo “Curious Baby Gorilla” – The photo was taken on our trip to Rwanda. You can read the article “Visit Beautiful Rwanda” and watch more photos here: https://www.czechleaders.com/posts/visit-beautiful-rwanda/

Pham Ha’s Real Business Isn’t Travel—It’s Shaping How the World Sees Vietnam

Most travel companies sell itineraries. Some sell experiences. Only a remarkable few pursue something far more ambitious: changing how the world perceives an entire nation. Looking back on more than two decades of building LuxGroup, it becomes clear that Dr. Pham Ha has never been interested in simply creating memorable holidays. His vision has always been to transform every journey into a meaningful story, every guest into a cultural ambassador, and every travel experience into a positive contribution to Vietnam’s global image. That is a far more demanding game than competing on price, market share, or the number of visitors served.

You can read the complete article: https://luxgroup.vn/pham-has-real-business-isnt-travel-its-shaping-how-the-world-sees-vietnam/

The first look into the face of a new breeding male giraffe, here still in its home Safaripark Beekse Bergen. Photo by Oliver Le Que, Prague Zoo

He measures over five meters, but he is not a slob. He weighs 1,238 kilograms, but he boasts long legs and excellent condition. He belongs to a cautious species of animal, and yet he has blood taken from his jugular vein. And although he has been in the world for nine years, he has not yet had the opportunity to reproduce. This is a new breeding male Nubian giraffe, who arrived at Prague Zoo from the Dutch Safaripark Beekse Bergen. Eight-year-old Finn is becoming a pillar of the future of Prague breeding. People can see him now.

“The arrival of the male is the result of several years of effort and, at the same time, the continuation of the rejuvenation process of our giraffe herd,” says Barbora Dobiášová, curator of ungulates. Due to several deaths of individuals at a ripe old age and the subsequent pause in reproduction, the number of giraffes in the African House fell to a historic low of just six animals in 2023. “The birth of Johanka in the summer of 2024, the arrival of the young female Niara from Leipzig this March, and finally the current arrival of the male Finn are planned steps to restore a stable breeding herd,” Dobiášová summarizes.

Chief ungulate breeder Aleš Doležal (pictured left) went to the Netherlands to see Finn in person. Here he documents the important progress of his veterinary training so that he could continue it in Prague. Photo Oliver Le Que, Prague Zoo

Finding a suitably old and genetically compatible male of the Nubian subspecies of the northern giraffe was not an easy task. The already demanding movements of giraffes, for which it is necessary to use the tallest transport trailers, were delayed by bluetongue disease. Veterinary measures responding to its spread in Western and Central Europe complicate or even make impossible the transport of even-toed ungulates between the member states of the European Union, which also applies to giraffes.

A male giraffe loaded into a special transport vehicle. We would like to thank our colleagues from Safari Park Dvůr Králové for the transport, who have extensive experience in transporting the tallest animals on the planet. Photo Arianne Van Den Boogaard

The coordinator of the European Breeding Program (EEP) finally recommended a male from the largest zoo in the Netherlands, Safaripark Beekse Bergen, on the outskirts of Tilburg. Finn was born there on March 19, 2018. His mother, also a Dutch native named Theluji, is the largest of all the nearly twenty females there. This was also reflected in her son, as Finn was also the largest male when he left.

After weaning, Finn lived in a male herd; this will be his first opportunity to breed at Prague Zoo. “He has a reputation for being a calm and gentle animal, which he confirmed immediately upon arrival. He is very kind to all the females and also to us, the breeders,” says Aleš Doležal, the head breeder of ungulates. According to him, it is clear that the male lived in a cosmopolitan enclosure with other species of animals. “He seems curious and, despite the typical conservative nature of giraffes, he doesn’t seem to mind any movement and nothing will upset him,” he adds, adding that Finn is already mated with eight Prague females and the breeders are looking forward to his first heat.

Here Finn is already getting to know his new roommates in the African Savannah at Prague Zoo. However, the two female Grévy’s zebras probably had more important things to do at the time the photo was taken. Photo Petr Hamerník, Prague Zoo

Whether Finn will take on the role of breeding male as successfully as his predecessor will only be revealed in the future. The bar is really high: The previous male Johan lived at Prague Zoo for more than 18 years. During that time, he fathered 30 cubs and thus became the most reproductively successful male giraffe in the history of Prague Zoo. At the time of his death, he was also the oldest male in the European studbook at 23 years, 7 months and 6 days.

Nubian giraffes (formerly known as Rothschild giraffes) have been bred at the Prague Zoo since the 1970s. This subspecies of the northern giraffe is currently listed as “critically endangered” on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

Finn’s height of over five meters stands out in comparison to other giraffes. Especially with young females, which are shorter. Photo Petr Hamerník, Prague Zoo

A herd of nine giraffes can be seen in the Prague Zoo’s vast African Savanna enclosure, along with zebras, oryx and ostriches. Every day at 11 a.m. (weather permitting), there is also a guided tour on the observation deck. The giraffes can also be seen outside after 5 p.m., when the zoo entrance fee is just 100 CZK, until the end of August.

Females Johanka and Niara show interest in Finn. Photo Petr Hamerník, Prague Zoo

Foto: Gonzalo Núñez, Radio Prague International

Más de 60 funcionarios checos acaban de terminar un curso intensivo de español gratuito gracias a una iniciativa de la Embajada de Colombia en Praga. Y quieren más. Que sigan los cursos. Aunque eso está todavía por verse.

“Agradecer especialmente a nuestra querida profesora Diana Hincapié, por su paciencia, por su dedicación y por su entusiasmo.

See more here.

Author: Gonzalo Núñez

Photo: Viet Up

An exhibition now on display at Prague’s Holešovice Market Hall explores what it means to grow up between two cultures. Little Hanoi: Next Generation combines large-scale portraits with personal stories to introduce the children of Vietnamese immigrants who settled in former Czechoslovakia decades ago. Ruth Fraňková went along to find out more.

The exhibition follows up on the original Little Hanoi project from 2008, created by photographers Štěpánka Stein and Salim Issa, which documented the first generation of Vietnamese immigrants who arrived in what was then Czechoslovakia in the late 1970s and early 1980s.

See more here.

Author: Ruth Fraňková

Photo: Marek Hensl, Czech Radio

Researchers in Brno have developed a portable device that does more than identify illegal drugs. It can also trace their origin and connect samples to previous cases, offering investigators valuable new intelligence. The technology has already attracted interest from police in both Czechia and the United States.

The device can not only identify illegal drugs but also determine their origin and link them to previous cases.

See more here.

Author: Vít Pohanka

Photo: René Volfík, iROZHLAS.cz

The Prague Archbishopric has abandoned plans to sell the historic Jindřišská Tower in the heart of Prague after spending several years searching for a buyer. It will now negotiate exclusively with the city of Prague, although it has not said whether the discussions will concern a sale, a lease, or some other form of cooperation.

The 65.

See more here.

Author: Daniela Lazarová

Photo: Film Servis Festival Karlovy Vary

Swiss actress and screenwriter Anna Schinz presented A Happy Family this weekend at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival, where the drama directed by her partner Jan-Eric Mack had its world premiere. The first Swiss film ever selected for the festival’s main competition, A Happy Family follows Niki, a single mother struggling to make ends meet in one of Europe’s wealthiest countries, as she faces the risk of losing custody of her children. Combining social realism with emotional restraint, the film sheds light on working poverty in Switzerland while avoiding easy moral judgments. Anna Schinz, whose mother is Czech, spoke to Radio Prague International after the screening about the film, her writing process and her personal connection to the Czech Republic.

Being in Karlovy Vary must be quite different than any other international festival for you since you have Czech roots, don’t you?.

See more here.

Author: Alexis Rosenzweig

Photo: René Volfík, iROZHLAS.cz

Many people have been suffering from the heat here in the Czech Republic, with all-time record temperatures registered on consecutive days at the end of last week. One group particularly at risk in such extreme weather are the homeless community.

Like much of Europe, Czechia has recently been hit by an intense heatwave.

See more here.

Author: Ian Willoughby

Photo: Patrik Uhlíř, ČTK

Between now and July 12 visitors to the Festival of Planets, underway on Brno’s Kraví hora, can admire ten-metre-high models of celestial bodies, enjoy projections in the digital planetarium, and watch some of the best sci-fi films at the open-air cinema. The summer Festival of Planets has attracted visitors since 2019, when it was launched to mark the 50th anniversary of the first landing on the Moon.

See more here.

Photo: © Barrandov Studio a.s.

The witch trials in northern Moravia claimed nearly two hundred lives and remain one of the darkest episodes in the history of today’s Czechia. In Blood in Bohemia, a special series of Czechast, Vít Pohanka and Rob Cameron revisit the story with historian Jaroslav Čechura. The episode explores both the traditional interpretation of the trials and a thought-provoking new perspective on their origins.

The witch trials that swept through northern Moravia during the late seventeenth century have become a symbol of fear, torture and injustice.

See more here.

Author: Vít Pohanka, Rob Cameron

Photo: Profimedia

Rising temperatures and declining oxygen levels are causing more frequent fish die-offs in Czech rivers, prompting new efforts to monitor and protect freshwater ecosystems. Scientists and water authorities are deploying advanced technologies to track water quality and better understand how climate change is reshaping aquatic life.

During hot summer days, one of the most common ways to cool down is by going for a swim.

See more here.

Author: Romana Grajcarová

Photo: University of Sheffield

Neil Bermel is Professor of Czech Language and Linguistics at the University of Sheffield, where he has been teaching for nearly three decades. He was among the scholars who gathered in Prague for the Seventh World Congress of Bohemian Studies and, during the event, received the Josef Dobrovský Medal for outstanding contributions to Czech studies. I sat down with him to talk about what first drew him to the Czech language, who chooses to study Czech today, and the challenges and opportunities facing the field.

You’ve spent nearly three decades teaching Czech language and linguistics at the University of Sheffield.

See more here.

Author: Ruth Fraňková

H.E. Mrs. Batsaikhan Bolormaa, the new Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Mongolia, based in Prague, hosted a welcome reception at the Ballroom at the Hilton Atrium Prague.

The reception was attended by ministers and members of the Parliament. The Senate, and many officials from the Government offices.

The honored speakers were Mrs. Marie Chatardová, the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic, and PhDr. Jiří Šíma, DrSc., Mongol scholar.

Watch the video with the speeches of H.E. Mrs. Batsaikhan Bolormaa, Ambassador of Mongolia to the Czech Republic, Mrs. Marie Chatardová, the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic, and PhDr. Jiří Šíma, DrSc., Mongol scholar.

Good luck Your Excellency

H.E. Mr. Claudio J. Rozencwaig, the Ambassador of Argentina to the Czech Republic, and the Embassy of Argentina in Prague, in partnership with Piantado Wines, hosted an exclusive Asado and Wine Tasting at the beautiful garden of the Official Ambassador’s residence.

During this event, the guests enjoyed premium products that characterize the Argentine cuisine: bone-in meat asado (by Tierra de Campeones) cooked with natural hardwood charcoal (by Carbo-Ar) and wines (by Staphyle winery).

Watch the Video with highlights from the welcome speech of H.E. Mr. Claudio Javier ROZENCWAIG, the Ambassador of Argentina to the Czech Republic, and Tristan Marek, the owner of “Piantado”.

We are looking forward to visiting Argentina and tasting this delicious food on the spot.

And a special thank you from our dogs: Dexter & Boomer. They loved to chew the bones.

Manulas in the Gobi exhibit tend to save energy during hot summer days and activate only in the later hours. Pictured is a male Spay. Photo by Petr Hamerník, Prague Zoo

Starting 1^st July, an early evening walk to the Prague Zoo will cost just one hundred crowns. During the summer holidays, all visitors pay CZK 100 for entry to the Prague Zoo after 5 p.m. The discount is valid from 1 July to 31 August and applies to physical tickets purchased at any box office between 5 pm and 7 pm. The gates to the zoo, indoor pavilions, and restaurants close at 7 p.m., but the grounds are open until 9 p.m.

“Last year, the summer early-evening discount on the entrance fee proved effective, because it motivated the people of Prague in particular to visit the zoo on weekdays after work and thus take advantage of the long summer evenings,” says director of Prague Zoo Lenka Poliaková. “According to our experience, people also avoided hot days in this way or went to specifically observe animals that become more active at sunset, such as Tasmanian devils, small and large felines, or wolves,” he adds.

Other animals active in the early evening include wombats, fossas, tayres, nosedives, red pandas, and various birds.

In addition to owls, they are species used to fly over to roost. It is very lively under the cable car in the walk-through aviary of the African Rock, further on in the Bird Wetlands exhibition complex, where you can observe cranes and various waders in the late hours, or in Darwin’s Crater, where cockatoos and rusty quacks will catch your eye.

The walk-through aviary of African Rock in the lower part of the zoo is lively in the evening. Pictured is the flagship species of this exhibit, the endangered rock ibis. Photo by Tereza Mrhálková, Prague Zoo

The holiday discount on the entrance fee is valid after 5 p.m. for adults, students, children, pensioners, and visitors with dogs. The exception is pensioners over the age of 70, who are of course still allowed to enter the Prague Zoo for a symbolic 1 CZK.

Prague Zoo is open every day from 9 a.m. in the summer. During hot days, visitors and animals are cooled by a total of 28 bivalves, which freshen the air across the zoo grounds.

The Global Report on Women in Tourism Transport, launched, provides the first global, sex-disaggregated evidence base on women working across air, land and water passenger transport. It identifies the legal, cultural and structural barriers limiting women’s access to decent work, career progression and leadership.

The findings show that tourism transport remains acutely male-dominated. In countries with available data:

• Women make up 36% of aviation workers but just 6% of pilots, with men continuing to dominate technical, flight deck and leadership positions.
• 96% of all tourism transport workers are in land passenger transport, yet only 3% of them are women.
• Just 12% of water passenger transport workers are women, with significant gaps in managerial and technical roles.
• Safety, sanitation and legal protection remain major barriers. One in five countries still lacks legal protections against harassment at work.

Read more : https://www.untourism.int/news/un-tourism-and-itf-call-for-action-on-women-in-tourism-transport?utm_source=nr&utm_medium=crm&utm_campaign=mailing

Women Leaders America is a global initiative of the CD Foundation that promotes female leadership in various countries. Its purpose is to create a transformative space where committed women and their male allies work together to promote gender equality and equity, challenging the social and cultural barriers that persist in today’s world.

With more than a decade of history, this community has proven to be an effective platform for empowering women as agents of social, economic, and political change.

You can read more and join here: https://fundacioncd.org/unete/

Fuente: Pixabay/Radio Prague International

Para celebrar el 90 aniversario de Radio Praga Internacional, os preguntamos qué significa RPI para cada uno de vosotros.

Durante nueve décadas, nuestra emisora ha transmitido desde Praga al mundo, a menudo en contextos complejos.

See more here.

Photo: Václav Šálek, ČTK

Scorching heat failed to deter visitors to this year’s International Folklore Festival in Strážnice, South Moravia. One of the highlights was the final of the Slovácko verbuňk, a traditional male solo dance often accompanied by song. This year’s winner was Petr Polách (pictured).

See more here.

Photo: Pavel Halla, Czech Radio

Where land was once drained, water is now being held back. Forest managers in Western Bohemia are reversing decades-old practices by creating ponds and wetlands designed to retain moisture and support a more diverse forest landscape.

The landscape around Rokycany has seen significant changes in recent years.

See more here.

Author: Daniela Lazarová

Source: Měsíc autorského čtení

Throughout July, the Author’s Reading Month (Měsíc autorského čtení, MAČ) will bring together Czech and international writers in a literary format unlike any other in Europe. This year’s guest of honour is Greenland, whose little-known literary scene will be showcased through around 30 events in Brno and five other cities. Pavel Drábek, the festival’s international programme director, translator and academic, told Radio Prague International why this choice has been years in the making and goes far beyond current geopolitical headlines.

The festival opens this Wednesday with Greenlandic artist and writer Jessie Kleemann alongside Czech author Jáchym Topol, and will end on July 31 with a special appearance by Togolese writer and explorer Tété-Michel Kpomassie, author of An African in Greenland, a travel memoir that has become a classic.

See more here.

Author: Alexis Rosenzweig

Building connections and making new friends can enrich both your personal life and your career. In Brno, Hungarian entrepreneur Ágnes Boháčová Szabó has made it her mission to help people do just that

See more here.

Photo: Petr Hamerník, ZOO Praha

Prague Zoo has welcomed a new Cape fur seal pup, the great-grandson of the legendary Gaston, whose dramatic escape during the devastating floods of 2002 made headlines around the world. I discussed the latest arrival and Gaston’s lasting legacy with Prague Zoo spokesperson Filip Mašek.

The new pup was born on June 5, but the zoo only announced the news last week.

See more here.

Author: Ruth Fraňková

Source: Ústav pro českou literaturu AV ČR

Scholars from 25 countries have gathered in Prague for the 7th World Czech Studies Congress, held this year under the theme Literature and Languages in Dialogue. I spoke with Dalibor Dobiáš, a researcher at the Institute of Czech Literature at the Czech Academy of Sciences and one of the congress organisers, about this year’s programme and how the field of Czech studies is evolving.

This year’s World Czech Studies Congress is taking place under the title Literature and Languages in Dialogue.

See more here.

Author: Ruth Fraňková

Photo: Jaroslav Svoboda, KoresponDance

An American choreographer working with local residents on the banks of the Sázava River. Performances filling historic courtyards, streets and parks. CorresponDance has grown into an international celebration of contemporary dance rooted in the Czech countryside.

The first sounds visitors hear are not those of an orchestra but of running water, percussion instruments and children laughing beside the Sázava River.

See more here.

Author: Vít Pohanka

Photo: Gonzalo Núñez, Radio Prague International

A huge concrete wall in Prague’s Ruzyně district is being transformed into one of Europe’s longest collaborative murals. Thirty artists from Czechia and abroad are taking part in the project, which will become a permanent open-air gallery. RF went to see the artists at work.

The 700-metre wall surrounds Ministry of Defence property along Vlastina Street in Prague’s Ruzyně district.

See more here.

Author: Ruth Fraňková

Photo: Antoan Pepelanov, Radio Prague International

Chef, food writer and cookbook author Evie Harbury is the author of My Bohemian Kitchen, which introduces international readers to Czech food through recipes and personal stories. Inspired by her childhood between England and the Czech Republic, the book also draws on family memories and traditions. I caught up with Harbury during a recent visit to Prague to talk about her grandmother’s influence on her cooking, the inspiration behind the book, and why she thinks Czech cuisine remains one of Europe’s most overlooked culinary traditions.

You have just come over from England.

See more here.

Author: Ruth Fraňková

H.E. Youngki Hong, Ambassador of Korea, and Mrs. Hyojin Kim, hosted a farewell reception at the beautiful Korean Embassy.

The honored guests were RNDr. Miloš Vystrčil, President of the Senate of the Czech Republic, and Mr. Karel Havlicek, Deputy PM and Minister of Industry and Trade of the Czech Republic.

The tradition, “Silver Plate ceremony,” was conducted by H.E. Mr. Claudio Javier ROZENCWAIG, Ambassador of Argentina, and Reverend Father N´gbesso Vital Akele OHOCHI, CDA of the Holy See.

Watch the video with highlights from the ceremony, including a few special surprises and the cultural program.

Farewell, Mr. Ambassador, and Mrs. Kim

안녕히 가세요, 대사님과 김 여사님.

It was a very unique event. A farewell party, with a lot of fun and good energy. A great way to end 5 years of serving as the Ambassador of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg to the Czech Republic, and a long, successful diplomatic career.

The Ambassador chose to do it on the rooftop of Radost, with a great view of the Prague sunset.

The speech was short, but the Eurovision party, with a live show of ADOXS, the 2025 Czech contestant, was the fun program.

Farewell, Mr. Ambassador, and thank you for such a great, fun party.

Watch the video with highlights from the party

On the occasion of the International Day of Women in Diplomacy, the Embassy of Italy in Prague organized an event dedicated to highlighting the significant contribution of women in diplomatic, bilateral, and multilateral environments.

The works were introduced by the Deputy Head of Mission, Ms. Laura Calligaro, who coordinated the initiative.

A round table, moderated by Adriana Dergam from the Faculty of Social Sciences of the Charles IV University of Prague, in which the Ambassador of Indonesia, H.E. Ms.Rina P. Soermarno, the Special Envoy of the Czech Government for the Balkans, Ms. Edita Hrdá, the Deputy Director of the Czech Department for Western Europe, ms. Jana Šedivá, and the Canadian Deputy Head of Mission, Ms. Hanna WAJDA, took part.

At the end of the round table, the Director of the United Nations Information Center in Prague, Mr. Michal Broža, provided an overview of the context that led to the establishment of the International Day of Women in Diplomacy.

Following this, through a video contribution by the head of the Gender and Sociology department of the Czech Academy of Sciences Alena Křížková, an academic perspective on the involvement of women in institutional contexts was illustrated.

The concluding remarks were entrusted to the co-organizer of the initiative, the Ambassador of Spain, H.E. Ms. Maria PEREZ SANCHEZ-LAULHE.

The International Day of Women in Diplomacy was established in 2022 by the UN, with the aim of raising awareness of the importance of female participation in diplomatic and multilateral decision-making processes.

Watch the video with highlights from the event.

On Thursday, June 25th, 2026, the President of the Republic, Petr Pavel, received the credentials of the new ambassadors extraordinary and plenipotentiary at Prague Castle.

H.E. Mrs. Batsaikhan Bolormaa, the new Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Mongolia, based in Prague.

H.E. Mr. Gabriel Orellana Zabalza, new Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Guatemala based in Vienna;

H.E. Mr. AbdiAsis Mohamud Mohamed, the new Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Federal Republic of Somalia based in Berlin.

The Turkish Ambassador to the Czech Republic, H.E. Mr. Metin Feyzioğlu, hosted a reception at the embassy residence in honor of the Kayseri delegation.

The reception was attended by Mrs. Marie Chatardová, the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic, along with her delegation, Czech and Turkish businesspeople, and project partners, sending a strong message on strengthening bilateral commercial and economic ties.

Watch the Video with highlights from the reception.

Digital Connection Project Builds Business Bridge Between Türkiye-Kayseri, Czechia, and Belgium

PRAGUE – Supported by the European Union, the Experience Sharing & Evaluation Meeting for the “Digi Connect: Digital Connection and Cooperation Network Between Chambers of Commerce” project was held in Prague with the participation of representatives from Türkiye, Czechia, and Belgium. Jointly executed by the Czech Chamber of Commerce, the Kayseri Chamber of Commerce, and the Belgian Flemish-Brabant Chamber of Commerce, the event featured the introduction of a multilingual digital platform designed to facilitate cross-border trade for SMEs.

The Experience Sharing and Evaluation Event of the Digi Connect project took place on June 23, 2026, hosted by the Czech Chamber of Commerce in Prague.

The event gathered prominent figures, including Vladimír Dlouhý, President of Eurochambres (the Association of European Chambers of Commerce and Industry); Radek Jakubský, Vice President of the Czech Chamber of Commerce; H.E. Mr.Metin Feyzioğlu, Ambassador of the Republic of Türkiye to the Czech Republic; Ömer Gülsoy, President of the Kayseri Chamber of Commerce; Tim Van Rooy, Director of the Flemish-Brabant Chamber of Commerce; and Murad CahidCingi, Chairman of the Türkiye-Czech Republic Inter-Parliamentary Friendship Group and Member of Parliament for Kayseri.

During the event, representatives from the Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the CzechInvest, the Turkish Commercial Counsellor’s Office in Prague, and the Czech-Turkish Joint Chamber of Commerce delivered presentations on investment opportunities and economic relations between the two countries.

A Cross-Border Digital Network for SMEs

The primary objective of the project is to develop a multilingual, user-oriented digital platform for business professionals who are members of the chambers of commerce in Kayseri (Türkiye), Czechia, and Flemish-Brabant (Belgium).

This platform is expected to ease cross-border connectivity among SMEs, enhance the digital visibility of companies, and enable B2B matchmaking, data sharing, and sector-based interaction, allowing chambers to provide advanced digital services to their members.

Critical Sectors Meet for B2B Matchmaking

Attended by representatives from Türkiye’s Mimarsinan and İncelsu Organized Industrial Zones, the Innovative Businessmen Association (INOVDER), the Kayseri Furniture Manufacturers Association (KAYMOS), MÜSİAD, and ASKON, the event hosted comprehensive bilateral business-to-business (B2B) meetings.

Numerous Turkish and Czech companies from vital sectors—such as defense, metal processing, healthcare, packaging, construction, household appliances, machinery manufacturing, chemicals, and furniture—participated in the matchmaking sessions.

Diplomatic Reception at the Embassy Residence

Prior to the project meeting, the Turkish Ambassador to Prague, Metin Feyzioğlu, hosted a reception at the embassy residence on June 22, 2026, in honor of the Kayseri delegation of approximately 45 people.

The reception was attended by the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Czechia, Marie Chatardová, along with her delegation, Czech and Turkish businesspeople, and project partners, sending a strong message on strengthening bilateral commercial and economic ties.

The Royal Thai Embassy in Prague and TAT – Tourism Authority of Thailand (Prague) organized an Amazing Thailand festival on the Promenade.

The event started with a minute of silence, In Memoriam – To Her Royal Highness Bajrakitiyabha, Princess Rajasarini Siribajra of Thailand.

H.E. Mr. Pichit BOONSUD – Ambassador of the Kingdom of Thailand in the Czech Republic, and Ms.Cholada Siddhivarn ( Joy)  the manager of the TAT Prague office, greeted the large crowd that attended the festival.

Prague’s Smíchov Náplavka was transformed into Thailand for one day. Even the weather was warm, like in Thailand.

The Amazing Thailand Festival offered dance, music, traditional Thai martial arts, authentic gastronomy, and the unique atmosphere of Southeast Asia.

From 12:00 until the evening, Thousands of people enjoyed a great atmosphere, full of traditional dances, live music, energetic Muay Thai demonstrations, stalls with Thai massages, products, and exotic fruits.

Many fun workshops and a tombola for visitors, authentic Thai gastronomy – with specialty offers from Thai chefs- exotic tastes and aromas that are as integral to Thai culture as music and dance.

All activities were free of charge.

Watch the Video with the speeches of H.E. Mr. Pichit BOONSUD – Ambassador of the Kingdom of Thailand in the Czech Republic, Ms. Cholada Siddhivarn ( Joy), the manager of the TAT Prague office, and highlights from the cultural program.

The 11^th Polish Day in one of the most beautiful gardens in Prague, on Saturday, June 20.

The Polish Day in Gardens was first held in 2017 at the initiative of the Polish Institute in Prague. This event was organized by the Polish Institute together with the Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Prague and in cooperation with the Prague office of the Polish Tourist Organization.

The most attractive tourist attractions of Poland and presentations of its regions, from lakes to mountains, competitions for children and adults, Polish music and gastronomy awaited visitors to the Polish Day in the Gardens. Once a year, during this event, the gates of the fairy-tale garden of the Embassy of the Republic of Poland are opened to the public free of charge.

The official part of the event started with greetings from Ms. Barbara Krystyna TUGE-ERECIŃSKA – CDA of the Republic of Poland to the Czech Republic, and the representative of the main sponsor – Orlen Unipetrol.

This year’s event was attended by approximately four thousand people.

The musical star of this year’s eleventh Polish Day in the Gardens was the legend of Polish rock Lech Janerka, and his band. World music also sounded on the outdoor stage – Beata Bocek, a Czech-Polish singer-songwriter from the Cieszyn region, performed with her guitar and accordion.

The event was opened at 1 p.m. by the Representative Wind Orchestra of the Wieliczka Salt Mines: first with a colorful parade and then a concert in the garden of the Polish Embassy.

During the Polish Day, visitors could win a weekend stay in Wrocław and also take part in other competitions for prizes, such as a knowledge quiz about Poland.

The garden of the Polish Embassy offers a beautiful view of Prague Castle, but this event also offers a unique opportunity to get to know the Polish regions and their tourist attractions in the center of Prague.

This year it was Lower Silesia and its metropolis Wrocław, Kuyavian-Pomeranian, Lublin and Lubusz Voivodeships, Lesser Poland, Subcarpathian Voivodeship and the town of Rudnik nad Sanem, Podlaskie Voivodeship, Silesia and Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship.

For children and adults, representatives of the regions prepared, for example, a climbing wall, a demonstration of knightly duels, scientific experiments or a fashion show of wicker clothes, tastings of regional cuisine specialties and a rich offer of workshops, including handmade paper production, wicker knitting, Małopolska beads, baking gingerbread, painting porcelain or tying boatman’s knots. This year’s novelty was a field kitchen with pea soup prepared by soldiers from the 10th Opole Logistics Brigade.

An important topic of this year’s Polish Day was also cycling and cycling routes – for example, the Green Velo route, which runs through five Polish regions and is almost two thousand kilometers long.

The Polish Day in Gardens is supported by the Orlen Unipetrol Foundation (main partner) and Allegro.

Watch the video with highlights from this fun event.

Photo: Monika Doležalová, Czech Radio

With summer approaching and the climate crisis progressing, it is likely that new temperature records will once again be recorded at Prague’s Clementinum meteorological station with more than 250 years old tradition. Nevertheless, scientists point out that data collected there should be interpreted with caution.

Encountering the whims of the weather is a universal experience.

See more here.

Author: Romana Grajcarová

Foto: Juan Pablo Bertazza, Radio Prague International

Con una mirada antropológica y una pasión genuina por el intercambio cultural, Petra Smutná desmonta la fama de lengua indomable y muestra que el checo puede dominarse con humor, comunidad y perseverancia.

See more here.

Author: Juan Pablo Bertazza

Photo: Facebook of iboleslav.cz

Four hundred years ago, the elephant Hansken was a European attraction that also visited the town of Mladá Boleslav. Today, in the same place, a metal sculpture of her has been created as part of the 13th edition of the Metal Symposium, which once again brought several international artists to the city.

A female Indian elephant originating from Ceylon named Hansken was one of the greatest European sensations in the 1630s.

See more here.

Author: Romana Grajcarová

Photo: Barbora Navrátilová, Radio Prague International

St. Vitus Cathedral, the dominant feature of Prague Castle, is known as the site of coronations, state funerals and major religious ceremonies. For nearly a century, however, it has also attracted filmmakers.

Perhaps the most famous Prague landmark, Prague Castle together with St.

See more here.

Author: Romana Grajcarová

Photo: George Napolitano, SplashNews.com / Profimedia

The 60th edition of the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival, which begins next Friday, is set to welcome absolute Hollywood royalty, in the form of Dustin Hoffman. Other names just revealed by the organisers include actors Juliette Binoche, Jeffrey Wright, Kevin Bacon and – making his third visit – Harvey Keitel. I spoke to Karlovy Vary’s artistic director, Karel Och, after Tuesday morning’s announcement.

What does it mean for you to bring a star of the calibre of Dustin Hoffman to this year’s festival?.

See more here.

Author: Ian Willoughby

Photo: History of the Institute for Archaeological Heritage

Czech archaeologists have announced a remarkable discovery in south-eastern Moravia: an almost perfectly preserved Roman jug found in a 1,500-year-old grave. The vessel is thought to be several centuries older than the burial itself and survived even though the grave was robbed long ago.

The discovery was made in May during the construction of a cycle path near Nezamyslice, a small town just south of Olomouc.

See more here.

Author: Ruth Fraňková

Source: Wikimedia Commons, public domain

The execution of twenty-seven leaders of the Bohemian Revolt on Prague’s Old Town Square ranks among the most dramatic public executions in European history. In this episode of Blood in Bohemia, a special series of Czechast, Rob Cameron and Vít Pohanka retrace the events that followed the Battle of White Mountain and examine how one morning in June 1621 transformed the Czech lands for centuries.

On the morning of June 21, 1621, Prague’s Old Town Square became the stage for one of the most carefully orchestrated political spectacles in Habsburg history.

See more here.

Author: Vít Pohanka, Rob Cameron

Photo: Vít Šimánek, ČTK

After enjoying success as a pop singer in the MTV era, Julian Lennon has since focused much of his attention on other fields, including photography. A small exhibition drawn from his book Life’s Fragile Moments has just opened at the Leica Gallery in Prague, a city he has visited repeatedly. I spoke to Lennon at a press preview.

Many of our listeners will know you from your hits back in the day.

See more here.

Author: Ian Willoughby

Photo: Alexis Rosenzweig, Radio Prague International

Few Holocaust testimonies are as vivid and comprehensive as the illustrated diary created by Alfred Kantor. Born in Prague in 1923, the young Jewish artist was deported to Terezín in December 1941 as part of the first transport of men sent to establish the ghetto. Two years later, he was deported to Auschwitz-Birkenau, where he was imprisoned in the so-called Terezín Family Camp before being transferred to the Schwarzheide concentration camp in Germany.

The Auschwitz Museum has recently acquired Alfred Kantor’s original sketchbook.

See more here.

Author: Alexis Rosenzweig

Photo: Petr Kadlec, Troja Festival

Classical music and unusual venues will come together in Prague’s Troja district from Thursday as the Troja Festival returns for its third edition. Running until June 23 and themed Between Heaven and Earth, the festival aims to connect music with some of the city’s most distinctive settings. Ahead of the event, I spoke with one of its founders, Martina Výrková, and first asked her how it all began.

“We started in 2023, when it was just a dream of violinist Jozef Špaček, who lives in Troja and envisioned a festival that would bring music to its beautiful locations.

See more here.

Author: Ruth Fraňková

On the occasion of the Statehood Day of the Republic of Slovenia, the Ambassador of the Republic of Slovenia, H.E. Mr. Ales Balut and Mrs. Adrijana Balut, hosted a reception at the beautiful garden of the Slovenian Embassy in Prague.

Mr. Jiří Brodský, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic, was the honored guest.

Watch the video featuring speeches by H.E. Mr. Ales Balut, the Ambassador of Slovenia to the Czech Republic, and Mr. Jiří Brodský, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic, as well as a presentation on the city of Ptuj.

Happy Statehood Day, Slovenia

Srečen dan državnosti, Slovenija

CZK 1.32 million, funds raised during the International Charity Market, organized by the DSA in November 2025, at the Hilton Prague Atrium hotel. A unique annual event, held under the patronage of the First Lady, Mrs. Eva Pavlova, welcomed thousands of visitors and offered a vibrant journey around the world through food, handicrafts, and cultural products from dozens of countries. Revenue was generated through ticket sales, the sale of international goods, and generous contributions from individual and corporate donors.

The grants were formally presented to representatives of the selected charities at the 2026 DSA Grant Award Ceremony, which took place on 12 June 2026 at the Czernin Palace, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic. Among the distinguished guests were the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic, Mr. Petr Macinka, members of the diplomatic corps, as well as DSA sponsors and partners.

It was the first time such a ceremony took place. It was a very successful event, which will become a tradition in future years.

For almost 3 decades, the DSA has raised approximately CZK 80 million and supported hundreds of charitable initiatives throughout the Czech Republic.

The association is entirely volunteer-run, and 100% of net proceeds are donated directly to Czech charities.

The next International Charity Market will take place on 21 November 2026 at the Hilton Prague Atrium hotel. We hope to see you there.

We appreciate Markéta Šarbochová, the Director of the Diplomatic Protocol Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic, for her big help.

Watch the Video of the ceremony, with the speeches of Mr. Petr Macinka, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic, DSA President: Ms. Jana Muranska (Slovakia).DSA Vice-President: Ms. Catharina Jevrell (Sweden).

DSA Charity Coordinator: Ms. Sonia Shehryar (Pakistan).DSA Cultural Coordinator: Ms. Leslie Merrick (USA), and DSA Secretary: Ms. Brenda Moore, (USA).

Please read the presentation of the selected charities at the 2026 DSA Grant Award Ceremony:

1. Mezi Námi

May I invite Daniela Hufová, PR and Fundraising Manager of Mezi Námi.

Since 2013, Mezi Námi has been connecting seniors and children through intergenerational programmes across the Czech Republic. By linking senior care facilities with schools and kindergartens and operating community programmes for older adults, this organization helps reduce loneliness, foster mutual understanding, and strengthen bonds between generations.

DSA is funding furniture & IT equipment for their Intergenerational house 

Grant Awarded: CZK 48,750

2. SOS Dětské Vesničky

Please welcome Jana Nevřalová, Head of Fundraising and Communication.

SOS Children’s Villages is one of the Czech Republic’s leading non-profit organizations supporting vulnerable children and families. Its work ranges from preventing family separation and providing crisis assistance to supporting foster families and helping disadvantaged young people transition to independent adulthood.

DSA is funding equipment for the new Crisis Center building

Grant Awarded: CZK 150,000

3. Centrum pro dětský sluch Tamtam

I would like to invite Jana Hrmová, Project Coordinator at Centre for Children with Hearing Impairment Tamtam, to receive her organization’s certificate.

Founded in 1990, Tamtam provides nationwide support to children with hearing impairments and their families from birth through adolescence. Through counselling, education, social services, and public awareness activities, the organization promotes communication, inclusion, and equal opportunities for children with hearing loss.

DSA is funding sensory tools for the children

Grant Awarded: CZK 100,000

4. Česká unie neslyšících

Cheskay oonie a Neslayasheetseeh

Please welcome Jiří Strejček,  (YIRI STRAYCHECK ) Director of the Czech Union of the Deaf.

Since 1990, the Czech Union of the Deaf has provided a wide range of services for people with hearing loss. Its programmes support deaf seniors, parents and children, and women through educational, social, technological, and recreational activities that promote inclusion, independence, and lifelong learning.

DSA is funding foam mats for the children

Grant Awarded: CZK 8,388

5. Dobré víly dětem

DOBRAY VILEE JAYTEM

May I invite Angelika Nevěřilová, (NEVIERILOVA), Chief Executive Officer.

Since 2015, Dobré víly dětem has supported children living in children’s homes throughout the Czech Republic. Through mentoring, educational support, camps, leisure activities, and individual attention, the organization helps children build confidence, skills, and meaningful relationships.

DSA is funding travel costs, volunteer coordination & school supplies.

Grant Awarded: CZK 170,000

6. Nadace Leontinka 

NADATSAY LAYONTINKA

Please welcome  Martins Balzerova from the Leontinka foundation to receive the award.

Established in 2005, the Leontinka Foundation supports children and young adults with visual impairments. A key focus of its work is early intervention, providing specialised support for children from birth to seven years of age and helping them develop the skills needed to thrive.

DSA is funding equipment and aids for visual stimulation & sensory integration of children aged 0-7 years

Grant Awarded: CZK 46,224

7. Nadační fond Harmonie

NADACHNI FOND HARMONIYE

May I invite  Terézia Hledíková, TAYRAYZIA HLEDIKOVA  Acting Representative of the Harmonie Foundation.

Inspired by the internationally renowned El Sistema model, the Harmonie Foundation has provided free music education since 2009. By offering tuition and musical instruments at no cost, the foundation ensures that every child, regardless of background or circumstances, has the opportunity to experience the transformative power of music.

DSA is funding venue costs for their concert 

Grant Awarded: CZK 50,000

8. Péče bez překážek

PAYCHAY BAYZ PRAYKAZHEK

Please welcome  Markéta Sojková to receive the certificate on behalf of Péče bez překážek.

Since its founding in 2017, the organisation has worked to improve access to support services for children with disabilities and their families. Its programmes include rehabilitation swimming, physiotherapy guidance, educational seminars, and the sharing of practical resources and experiences for caregivers.

DSA is funding swimming venue costs for children with disabilities 

Grant Awarded: CZK 100,000

9. Sdílení Telč

ZZZDEELENI TELCH

May I invite Michaela Čeřovská, MEEKHAELA CHEROVSKA Director of Zdeelení, to the stage.Sdílení provides professional support to families caring for seriously ill, elderly, or dying loved ones at home. Through the work of nurses, doctors, social workers, and care assistants, the

organisation enables people to remain in familiar surroundings while receiving compassionate and comprehensive care.

DSA is funding equipment for providing palliative care at home

Grant Awarded: CZK 39,109

10. Centrum integrace dětí a mládeže (CID)

Please welcome Dr. Marie Petrželová to receive the award on behalf of the CID

For more than 35 years, CID has supported children and young people, including those with disabilities or social disadvantages, as well as their families and seniors. Guided by its motto, “A beautiful and happy childhood for all children,” the organization promotes inclusion and equal opportunities for every child.

DSA is funding psychological support for parents and therapeutic support for children in need 

Grant Awarded: CZK 100,000

11. Za sklem

May I invite Jana Horáčková.

Za sklem is a non-governmental organization supporting people on the autism spectrum and their families. Through specialized social services, therapeutic programmes, and educational support, the organization helps children and young people develop communication, social, and independent living skills, enabling them to reach their full potential.

DSA is funding new tools and equipment for children & adolescents with autism 

Grant Awarded: CZK 100,000

12. DownSyndrom 

Please welcome Gabriela Šalková to receive the grant and donation certificate.

Since 1996, DownSyndrom has supported individuals with Down syndrome and their families through counselling, education, family events, leisure activities, and inclusion programmes. Guided by its motto, “We are a bridge for people with Down syndrome,” the organization promotes awareness, equal opportunities, and a more inclusive society.

DSA is funding IT, household equipment, and half-year rent for children and adults with Down syndrome 

Grant Awarded: CZK 50,000

13. Nadace Dagmar a Václava Havlových VIZE 97

NADATSAY DAAGMAR A VATSSLAVA HAAVLOVEEH

May I invite  JUDITA SOUKUPOVA and Mr. Jakub Doležal   to the stage to receive this award on behalf of the foundation.

Through its Stop Before You Hit programme, launched in 2021, the Dagmar and Václav Havel Foundation works to prevent domestic violence before it occurs. By providing professional therapeutic support to individuals struggling with aggression and anger management, the programme promotes healthier relationships, personal responsibility, and safer family environments.

DSA is funding therapy, therapy materials & renovation of the therapy rooms for victims of domestic violence 

Grant Awarded: CZK 100,000

14. ACORUS

Please welcome  Katarina Mos Šinková, Head of Professional Services at ACORUS.

Since 1997, ACORUS has provided comprehensive support to individuals and families affected by domestic violence. Through specialized services, prevention programmes, and professional assistance, the organization helps people regain safety, stability, and the opportunity to live free from violence.

DSA is funding furniture for their women & children’s domestic violence shelter

Grant Awarded: CZK 60,000

15. PFERDA

May I invite Hana Košťálková to receive the award on behalf of PFERDA.

PFERDA supports people with disabilities and other disadvantaged groups in employment, education, and independent living. Through community-based programmes and social services, the organisation helps individuals develop their abilities and participate fully in society.

DSA is funding modern cleaning equipment for use by employed people with disabilities 

Grant Awarded: CZK 100,000

16. Charita Nový Hrozenkov

Finally, please welcome  Lenka Vráželová, VRAAJELOVA Director of Charita Nový Hrozenkov.

Since 1992, Charita Nový Hrozenkov has served communities in the mountainous Wallachia region near the Slovak border. Its mission is to enable people facing declining health to remain in their own homes, living with dignity, independence, and the support of their loved ones for as long as possible.

DSA is funding residential visits and home health aid equipment for movement, meals, hygiene, etc

Grant Awarded: CZK 100,000

Foto: Gonzalo Núñez, Radio Prague International

Karla Reyes Leiva es una ingeniera biomédica hondureña que realiza un postdoctorado en la Universidad Técnica de Ostrava (Vysoká škola báňská). Su campo es el procesamiento de señales médicas y la ciencia de datos. Y para ello utiliza mucho la inteligencia artificial, a la que ve como una aliada, una herramienta ideal que le permite hacer su trabajo.

Karla Reyes Leiva es una hondureña de Santa Bárbara, donde se produce el mejor café de Honduras, asegura.

See more here.

Author: Gonzalo Núñez

Photo: Charles University

One hundred and twenty-five years ago, Prague witnessed a milestone in the history of women’s education. At just 24 years old, zoologist Marie Zdenka Baborová became the first woman to earn a doctorate at a university in the Czech lands. At a time when women were only beginning to gain access to higher education, her achievement marked a breakthrough that helped open the doors of academia to future generations.

In June 1901, Marie Zdenka Baborová became the first woman to earn a doctorate in philosophy at Prague University, today’s Charles University.

See more here.

Steve Gove, founder and director of the Prague Fringe Festival, has been awarded an MBE by King Charles III in recognition of his contribution to Czech-British cultural relations.

See more here.

Author: Ian Willoughby

Photo: archive of František D’Agostino

For climbers, El Capitan in California’s Yosemite National Park is what Mount Everest is for mountaineers. This spring, Czech climber František D’Agostino achieved something that only a handful of people have ever done. Together with American climber Samuel Stroh, he free-climbed the legendary El Niño route on El Capitan in a single day. Just a few days later, the pair returned to tackle another demanding route on the wall, Golden Gate, this time in a 26-hour push.

Upon his return from Yosemite, I met with D’Agostino to talk about the experience, the challenges of big-wall climbing and his plans for the future.

See more here.

Author: Ruth Fraňková

Photo: Eva Dubská Petrová, Czech Radio

A 17th-century engraving by Wenceslas Hollar has returned to the Beneš Villa in Sezimovo Ústí after spending decades with relatives of the Czechoslovak President in the United States. For the family, the donation is not only the return of a work of art, but also a symbolic act of remembrance, reconciliation and homecoming.

For decades, the engraving quietly hung on the walls of a family home in the United States.

See more here.

Author: Vít Pohanka

Photo: Josef Vostárek, ČTK

Eleven monumental works by artist Jaroslav Róna are now on display in the town of Litomyšl. According to the artist, each sculpture has a special connection to the space in which it is placed.

See more here.

Photo: Vít Pohanka, Radio Prague International

In the latest episode of Prague Off the Beaten Track, a Czechast series, we step inside the Church of St. Martin in the Wall, one of Prague’s oldest and least-known historic churches. Hidden just off Národní třída, it played a remarkable role in the Hussite movement and today offers one of the city’s most welcoming and distinctive Protestant communities.

For many visitors, churches are places to admire for a few minutes before moving on to the next attraction.

See more here.

Author: Vít Pohanka

Photo: City of Ostrava

For nearly 25 years, Libuše Salomonovičová has been piecing together the stories of Jewish families connected to Ostrava in the northeastern Czech region of Moravia-Silesia. Now the 89-year-old researcher has donated her life’s work, a unique archive containing records on some 33,000 people, to Ostrava’s City Archive.

Although not Jewish herself, Libuše Salomonovičová married into a Jewish family.

See more here.

Author: Ruth Fraňková

Photo: Unsplash

The Czech Entomological Society has named the praying mantis Czechia’s Insect of the Year for 2026. Once found mainly in southern Moravia, this striking predator has spread across much of the country and is now turning up in places where people would hardly have expected to see it a few decades ago. Researchers are also asking the public to help track its spread, while keeping an eye on other mantis species that may soon reach Czechia.

I spoke with the society’s Petr Šípek and began by asking him why the praying mantis was chosen as Czechia’s Insect of the Year for 2026.

See more here.

Author: Ruth Fraňková

Photo: Michaela Danelová, Czech Radio

People around the country can now experience a trip into space through virtual reality. A special rocket-shaped simulator called SpaceBuzz is touring the country, offering visitors a chance to embark on a virtual space mission and view Earth from the perspective of astronauts aboard the International Space Station.

The 18-metre-long white structure resembling a spacecraft is mounted on a mobile truck and visitors climb up a set of steps to its interior for the unique experience of leaving the Earth’s orbit.

See more here.

Author: Daniela Lazarová

Czechs are famous for their love of cottages, cabins and weekend retreats. But while this tradition has often been explored as a social phenomenon, far less attention has been paid to the architecture behind it. A new exhibition at Prague’s Museum of Applied Arts, called The Modern Cottage: An Architectural Phenomenon, aims to change that, tracing the evolution of cottage architecture from the interwar period to the end of socialism. I sat down with its curator, architectural historian Adam Štěch, to find out more.

Why did you feel the architectural side of the cottage phenomenon deserved more attention?.

See more here.

Author: Ruth Fraňková

On the occasion of the Portuguese Republic National Day, Camões and Portuguese Communities, the Ambassador of Portugal, H.E. Mr. Carlos Manuel  FOLHADELA DE MACEDO OLIVEIRA, and the Camões Portuguese Language Centre hosted a reception and a concert by Rita Maria and Filipe Raposo, at the beautiful New Town Hall in Prague.

The honored Speaker was Mrs. Marie Chatardova, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic.

Watch the video with the speech of the Ambassador of the Portuguese Republic, H.E. Mr. Carlos Manuel  FOLHADELA DE MACEDO OLIVEIRA, and Mrs. Marie Chatardova, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic, and highlights from the concert.

Viva Portugal, Viva Czech Republic

The Fassati Art Festival is an art project that offers a unique blend of experiences, encompassing music, fine arts, architecture, design, epicurean delicacies, emotions, and interpersonal harmony.

The main idea of ​​the festival was prepared by the beautiful soprano Markéta Fassati, who guarantees the festival’s uniqueness.

The 2026 Gala evening took place at the Martinick‎ Palace on Hradčanské náměstí, close to Prague Castle. A beautiful Renaissance palace.

Martinic Palace on the Hradčany square is one of the most beautiful late-Renaissance palaces in Prague; it was originally built in two stages separated by approximately eighty years, in 1550–1630, when a couple of older Gothic houses were expanded and rebuilt. In the second half of the 14th century, four Gothic buildings used to stand where the palace is today. One of them was owned by the famous chronicler Benesch of Weitmile, who was commissioned by Charles IV. to oversee the construction of St. Vitus Cathedral. Another house was occupied by Lady Ofka, Queen Elizabeth’s lady-in-waiting. According to legends, she sometimes appears after midnight, accompanied by a burning dog. You can find more information at: https://www.martinickypalac.cz/en/history-of-the-palace/

This year, the beautiful soprano Marketa Fassati was accompanied by the pianist and composer Pavel Vetrovec, Frantisek Raba on the Contrabass, and Josef Nepustil on the drums.

Watch the video with highlights from this great concert; it was a great joy.

The Ambassador of Finland, H.E. Mr. Pasi Olavi Tuominen, and Mrs. Marjut Kuokkanen hosted a farewell reception at their beautiful residence Garden.

Here are selected sections of H.E. Mr. Pasi Olavi Tuominen and H.E. Mr. Claudio Javier Rozencwaig’s speeches at the event.

Instead of visitors, the white-banded ring-tailed lemurs have been lounging on the benches lately. While the ring-tailed lemurs most often catch rays while sitting, the white-banded ring-tailed lemurs can assume various positions. Photo Petr Hamerník, Prague Zoo

A new environment, strange smells and sounds – and above all, unfamiliar roommates. The white-banded vari, one of the largest and loudest lemurs, settled in their new home surprisingly quickly.

Previously, visitors to Prague Zoo would see them opposite large turtles, but now they share a walk-through exhibit at the main entrance along with ring-tailed lemurs. Both Madagascan primates move freely around the island among people and can be observed from close quarters.

“We were relieved that we managed to bring the groups together. The experiences of other institutions sometimes suggested the opposite,” says Jan Mengr, curator of primates at Prague Zoo. “Coexistence is going beyond expectations. Each troop has its own ‘home’, where they do not let each other in, and most of the time they ignore each other in the enclosure.”

Getting to know each other on Lemur Island took place gradually. The white-banded ring-tailed lemurs spent the first fortnight in the hinterland, from where the ring-tailed lemurs could observe them. Then they had their first walks on the island, and then both groups took turns on it. Surprisingly, their first meeting together in the enclosure went well.

“The ring-tailed lemurs quickly settled in on the island and especially liked sunbathing on the benches,” describes Prague Zoo primate keeper Nikola Kučerová. “The ring-tailed lemurs, on the other hand, like to climb trees and bushes. Sometimes both species run into each other; light skirmishes only occur when I bring food.”

The Prague Zoo wants to dedicate the free enclosure for the white-banded ring-tailed lemurs to another Madagascar endemic species in time.

Although the white-banded ring-tailed lemurs are larger in size, the ring-tailed lemurs are more numerous on the island. While the male group of pure black and white prosimians numbers four individuals, their roommates with the unmistakable striped tail are six: five females and one male. Photo Petr Hamerník, Prague Zoo

Visitors will learn interesting facts about the life of these Malagasy endemics during the guided meetings, which are held daily at 3 p.m. on Lemur Island. Photo Petr Hamerník, Prague Zoo

The safety of visitors and animals is supervised by Prague Zoo staff. Of course, it is not possible to feed or touch the animals. Photo Petr Hamerník, Prague Zoo

The white-banded ring-tailed lemurs are listed as critically endangered on the IUCN Red List. Their numbers are also declining due to deforestation and hunting, and the populations are not helped by the very slow rate of reproduction. Photo by Petr Hamerník, Prague Zoo

Foto: Juan Pablo Bertazza, Radio Prague International

Su gran dominio del idioma y chispa mediterránea hacen que compatriotas y extranjeros tomen a Lucie Novotná por española. Desde las aulas hasta Instagram, esta checa que desconcierta a todos se está volviendo cada vez más popular por contagiar su gran pasión por un idioma que adoptó como propio.

See more here.

Author: Juan Pablo Bertazza

Czechia had the seventh-lowest inflation rate in Europe in May, according to an analysis by investment company Portu.

See more here.

Author: Vít Pohanka

Photo: Projekt Epsula

Czech linguists are helping preserve the language of one of Central America’s Indigenous peoples. They are racing to record the stories of El Salvador’s Nahuat Pipil before they disappear with the last generation of storytellers.

The Nahuat Pipil are an Indigenous people whose ancestors migrated from central Mexico to present-day El Salvador around a thousand years ago.

See more here.

Author: Ruth Fraňková

Photo: Khalil Baalbaki, Czech Radio

Eighty-four years ago, on June 10, 1942, the Nazis annihilated the Central Bohemian village of Lidice in retaliation for the assassination of Acting Reich Protector Reinhard Heydrich by Czechoslovak parachutists. In one of the most brutal reprisals of WWII, they shot 173 men, deported the women to concentration camps, and murdered most of the children or took them away for Germanization. The village was razed to the ground.

“General Heydrich had come to like our country; he was our friend.

See more here.

Author: Ľubomír Smatana, Daniela Lazarová

Photo: Ben Kerck, Pixabay, Pixabay License

The Czech Republic boasts one of the densest library networks in Europe. But who exactly uses these libraries, and what do their reading habits look like? Drawing on data from roughly 17 million loans made over three years at Prague’s Municipal Library, data journalist Michal Kašpárek uncovered a number of intriguing patterns. At what age do men and women read the same books? Who are the library’s ‘super-users’? And how do readers’ interests change over the course of a year? Ruth Fraňková spoke to Kašpárek about what the data revealed.

Of all the patterns hidden in the data, was there anything that really took you by surprise?.

See more here.

Author: Ruth Fraňková

Photo: Václav Šálek, ČTK

Czech astronaut Aleš Svoboda is on track to become the first Czech citizen to visit the International Space Station. The European Space Agency has signed an agreement with the US space company VAST that could see him fly to the ISS next year, and take on the key role of pilot.

Prime Minister Andrej Babiš announced the news on Monday, saying Aleš Svoboda is expected to fly to the International Space Station aboard a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft next year.

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Author: Ruth Fraňková

Photo: Vamberecká krajka CZ

For generations, the town of Vamberk has been synonymous with lace-making. Now its most famous craft has earned a new distinction: the exquisite Vamberk bobbin lace has become the first Czech craft product to receive European protected geographical indication status.

Nestled in the foothills of the Orlické Mountains in the north-east of Czechia, Vamberk has been associated with lace-making since the 17th century.

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Author: Ruth Fraňková

Dog owners in Czechia will be required to register their pets in a new Central Dog Register from July 1, the Czech News Agency reported on Saturday, citing the Chamber of Veterinary Surgeons and the Agriculture Ministry.

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Author: Ruth Fraňková

Photo: Die Gross-Industrie Oesterreichs, Band 3. Leopold Weiss, Wien 1898/Wikimedia Commons, public domain

130 years ago, the Kolben & Co. factory began its story in Vysočany, which became the industrial heart of Prague and a symbol of Czech electrical engineering.

Emil Kolben was a Czech engineer who worked in the United States alongside Thomas Edison and Nikola Tesla in the late 19th century.

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Repro photo: SOČR 100, Pokorný Milan, 2026

The Czech Radio Symphony Orchestra is celebrating 100 years. In this five-part series, we follow its journey from a modest ensemble to an orchestra that helped shape Czech musical history.

The Czech Radio Symphony Orchestra (SOČR) is one of the oldest and most prominent orchestras in the Czech Republic.

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Source: Amanita Design

Award-winning Czech indie studio Amanita Design has unveiled its latest game, Phonopolis, a story-driven puzzle adventure set in a dystopian city built entirely from cardboard. More than a decade in the making, the game combines puzzle-solving gameplay with a distinctive hand-crafted visual style inspired by avant-garde art. What made the developers choose cardboard as the foundation of an entire game world? How do you turn stacks of paper models into a living digital city? And how did a project that took more than ten years to complete evolve along the way? I discussed these questions with Phonopolis producer Lukáš Kunce.

For listeners who haven’t come across Phonopolis yet, could you briefly introduce the game, its story and the main characters?.

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Author: Ruth Fraňková

Photo: Archive of Zoopark Zájezd

A small zoo near the Central Bohemian town of Kladno is celebrating an exceptional breeding achievement. At the end of March, a young African hawk eagle hatched at the Zájezd Zoopark, one of only three zoos in Europe that keep the species. According to available records, it could be the first successful breeding of the bird in a European zoo. To learn more, I spoke with Daniel Koleška, the zoo’s head of conservation projects and education.

African hawk eagles are quite rare in captivity.

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Author: Ruth Fraňková

Photo: Czech Radio

Hundreds of employees of Czech Television and Czech Radio staged protests on Wednesday against proposed changes to the funding of public-service media, warning that the measures could threaten their independence and financial stability.

Hundreds of Czech Television and Czech Radio employees came to work dressed in black on Wednesday to sound the alarm that their future is at stake and that if the ruling coalition pushes through its planned funding reform they may no longer be able to fulfill their mission.

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Author: Daniela Lazarová

Photo: Tereza Brázdová, Czech Radio

The Regional Museum in Chrudim has opened an exhibition of works by the renowned Art Nouveau artist Alphonse Mucha. The collection of first edition posters, which captivated Paris in the late 1890s, is on show under the title Alphonse Mucha – Euphoria of Ornament.

The collection of posters ranks among the greatest treasures of the museum’s art collection.

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Author: Daniela Lazarová

Photo: Czech Television

This November will mark 60 years since the premiere of Closely Watched Trains, the Oscar-winning film by Jiří Menzel. The anniversary will be celebrated on 20 June in Loděnice, where a large part of the film was shot. Fans of the famous movie and the book it is based on can also explore the local Muzeum trati (Museum of the Railway Line), open from April till October.

Closely Watched Trains is a Czechoslovak film directed by Jiří Menzel in 1966, based on a novella of the same name by Bohumil Hrabal.

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Author: Romana Grajcarová

Photo: Patrik Uhlíř, ČTK

Two Czech Roman Catholic priests killed by the communist regime were beatified in Brno at the weekend. Jan Bula and Václav Drbola were hanged after a show trial in the 1950s, the darkest decade of the totalitarian era.

Clerics Jan Bula and Václav Drbola were beatified as martyrs in front of over 13,000 people in a hall at Brno’s Exhibition Grounds on Saturday afternoon.

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Author: Ian Willoughby

Source: UMPRUM

The annual final exhibition of the Academy of Arts, Architecture and Design in Prague (UMPRUM) has moved to Kasárna Karlín, where students have come together to showcase an exciting variety of works, from sculpture to performance art, shaped by their new temporary home amid the reconstruction of the university’s main building.

Originally built for military purposes as barracks in the 1840s, Kasárna Karlín has, in recent years, become one of Prague’s most distinctive cultural and social hubs, home to an open-air cinema, a volleyball court, bars, cafes and art galleries.

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On the occasion of the 80^th Italian National Day, the Ambassador of Italy to the Czech Republic, H.E. Mr. Alessandro Gaudiano, and Mrs. Beate Bender hosted a reception at the beautiful Italian Cultural Institute in Prague.

The honored speaker was Mr. Andrej Babiš – the Prime Minister of the Czech Republic.

Watch the video with the speeches of H.E. Mr. Alessandro Gaudiano, the Ambassador of the Italian Republic, and Mr. Andrej Babiš –the Prime Minister of the Czech Republic

Happy 80th National Day, Italy

Buona 80ª Festa Nazionale, Italia!

The countries of the Nordic and Baltic regions – Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, and Sweden – hold their yearly joint National Days celebration together, with Ukraine as a partner and an ally, at the beautiful Fanta Hall at Prague Main Railway Station

Prague is the only place where this celebration has been arranged for many years. We fully agree with Ambassadors when they say that „our strength thrives not only on our economies and our alliances but above all on our values.

Solidarity, justice, respect for human rights, and fundamental freedoms form the foundation of our societies. It works both inwards and outwards.“ We all stand for Ukraine together as great allies and partners.

The honored speaker was Mr. Andrej Babiš – the Prime Minister of the Czech Republic.

Watch the video with the speeches of:

H.E. Mr. Pasi Olavi TUOMINEN – Ambassador of the Republic of Finland

H.E. Mr. Rolandas  KAČINSKAS – Ambassador of the Republic of Lithuania

H.E. Mr. Vilmars  HENINŠ – Ambassador of the Republic of Latvia

Screenshot

This year marks the 30^th anniversary of the sister-city partnership between the city of Kyoto and the city of Prague, established on 15 April 1996.

I April 2026, a delegation from Prague City visited Kyoto, where both cities reaffirmed their shared commitment to further strengthening cooperation across a wide range of fields, including culture, business, art and academia.

H.E. Mr. Kansuke NAGAOKA, the Ambassador of Japan to the Czech Republic, hosted a reception in honor of Mr. MATSUI Koji, Mayor of Kyoto City, at his beautiful residence.

The reception provided a useful opportunity to discuss the means to materialize the shared interests into specific types of cooperation.

Watch the video with the speeches of H.E. Mr. Kansuke NAGAOKA, the Ambassador of Japan to the Czech Republic, and Mr. MATSUI Koji, Mayor of Kyoto ( in Japanese with translation to Czech )

The public opening will take place at the Lidice Gallery, Tokajícká 152, Lidice, attended by Huma Kabakci, custodian of the NHK Collection; Dr. Eduard Stehlik, Director of the Lidice Memorial; Ruth Noack, member of the LAC Council; and Míloslav Vorlíček, Head of the Lidice Art Collection.

Photo: University of West Bohemia in Plzeň

A team of Czech scientists has developed DigiDiadem, an app designed to help identify memory problems at an early stage. Using ten simple voice-based tasks and artificial intelligence, the system analyzes speech patterns that may indicate cognitive impairment or the onset of dementia.

The app was unveiled at the University of West Bohemia in Plzeň and is based on ten simple tasks that users complete by speaking their answers aloud.

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Author: Vít Pohanka

Photo: IPR Praha

After over a decade of preparation, the Prague Council last week approved a new zoning plan for the city. What will it do to fix Prague’s shortage of new apartments? And does it factor in all the amenities that development will demand? I spoke to Deputy Mayor for Spatial Development Petr Hlaváček (Mayors party), who oversaw the conclusion of the entire project.

Preparations for the new municipal zoning plan took many years.

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Author: Ian Willoughby

Foto: Juan Pablo Bertazza, Radio Prague International

Convocada por una retrospectiva de sus mejores películas, la realizadora Jana Boková volvió a Praga con más miedo que certezas. Sin embargo, el entusiasmo del público y un episodio surrealista mientras bailaba tango le devolvieron, de golpe, esa ciudad que creía perdida.

A algunas personas podría inquietarlas un poco la idea de una retrospectiva, como la que está llevando a cabo estos días el Archivo Nacional de Cine Checo sobre la obra cinematográfica de Jana Boková: ocho de sus mejores películas proyectadas a modo de maratón entre el 14 de mayo y el 4 de junio en dos emblemáticas salas de Praga, Ponrepo y Atlas.

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Author: Juan Pablo Bertazza

Photo: Pawel Andrachiewicz, Newspix.pl / Profimedia

Jakub Menšík’s breakthrough season has reached another milestone. The Czech tennis star defeated Brazil’s João Fonseca in straight sets to become the first Czech man in sixteen years to reach the semifinals at Roland Garros. Speaking after the match, Menšík highlighted the importance of his return game, mental strength and aggressive tactics as he prepares for a showdown with Alexander Zverev.

Jakub Menšík’s remarkable rise in world tennis continues.

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Author: Vít Pohanka

In Prague, around 157,000 apartments are currently under construction, which is 8,000 more than in the first half of last year.

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Author: Romana Grajcarová

Photo: Film Servis Festival Karlovy Vary

The 12 contenders for the Crystal Globe at the 60th edition of the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival have just been revealed. They include one Czech picture as well as works from as far afield as Myanmar and Lebanon. Meanwhile the region’s biggest celebration of cinema will have more special screenings than ever. I discussed this year’s selection with artistic director Karel Och at a presentation on Tuesday.

There is one Czech film in the main competition, Chica Checa.

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Author: Ian Willoughby

Photo illustrative: M., Unsplash

A new survey commissioned by the organisation Konsent suggests that relationships between teachers and students may be more common than many people realise. The research also found broad agreement that such behaviour has no place in schools, although younger and older Czechs often describe it differently. I discussed the findings with Konsent’s director Johanna Nejedlová and began by asking her what surprised her most about the results.

“I think the most alarming number is that 1.

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Author: Ruth Fraňková

Photo: Jacob David Marek

For most people, hearing the name Stalin evokes images of the late Soviet dictator and of immense restriction. But in the case of many people in the Czech capital the name has instead become associated with fairy lights, electronic music and views of the Prague skyline. The place where a statue of the dictator once stood is now one of the most popular cultural venues.

For the past 10 years the Stalin Cultural Center at Prague’s Letná has hosted DJs, live music, documentaries and feature films alongside the giant red metronome and graffitied skate park that have replaced the towering symbol of totalitarian oppression.

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Olympic bronze medallist Tereza Voborníková has been named Czech Biathlete of the Year for the second time in her career.

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Author: Daniela Lazarová

Photo: Filip Jandourek, Czech Radio

Up to 70 percent of former prisoners in the Czech Republic end up returning to jail, often because they lack access to housing, work, addiction treatment or family support after release. A new online platform, launching this autumn, aims to change that by connecting former inmates with organizations that can help them rebuild their lives.

Around 10,000 people are released from Czech prisons each year.

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Author: Daniela Lazarová

Photo: Ian Willoughby, Radio Prague International

Earlier this year, Jan Zikmund launched Zikmund Literary, an agency that primarily aims to help Czech authors find readers around the world. But how does he plan to achieve this? How do books from this country tend to fare in foreign markets? And what other states can Czechia learn from in this arena? I discussed these questions and more with Zikmund, who is in his mid 30s and previously helped promote Czech writing in English-speaking countries at the state-funded Czech Literary Centre.

“I felt there was a need for a new literary agency here.

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Author: Ian Willoughby

Photo: Embassy of the Czech Republic in Madrid

In the Madrid Río park, just a few steps from the Puente de Praga, the statue of František Suchý has been standing for a few days now. Suchý was the director of the Strašnice Crematorium, who secretly preserved the identities of more than two thousand people executed during the Nazi occupation. Among them were several Spaniards. Created by Czech sculptor Jakub Vlček, the monument weaves together Czech and Spanish history, acts of personal courage and international efforts to uncover forgotten stories.

František Suchý, originally a landscape architect, was appointed director of Prague’s Strašnice Crematorium during the Nazi occupation.

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Author: Romana Grajcarová

Photo: Miroslav Chaloupka, ČTK

Owners and enthusiasts of cars, motorcycles and utility vehicles from the former Eastern Bloc gathered at Autocamp Hnačov in the Klatovy District for this year’s annual gathering of historic vehicles. The photograph captures a moment from the event’s popular ceremonial drive through the surrounding countryside.

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Photo: Laura Hájková, Czech Radio

Prague’s public transport operator has unveiled the new cars for the Petřín Funicular, allowing the public to see them for the first time, as reconstruction of the line moves toward completion in the second half of September.

The popular cable car to Petřín has been out of operation since late 2024 and a crowd of curious onlookers gathered to see its upgraded version in action for the first time this week.

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Author: Daniela Lazarová

Photo: Supraphon

Yvonne Přenosilová was a Czech singer and radio presenter, regarded as one of the pioneers of Czech rhythm and blues and rock and roll. Her life and career were shaped not only by music, but also by political upheaval, emigration, and a constant search for artistic freedom.

Přenosilová was born on July 2, 1947 in Prague into a family marked by war and displacement.

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Author: Romana Grajcarová