AuthorMartin Hladík

Photo: Filip Jandourek, Czech Radio

The Brady family, originally from Nové Město na Moravě, has an inspiring story that spans generations and continents. George Brady, immigrated to Toronto, Canada after surviving Auschwitz and fleeing communism. Having promised himself as a prisoner that he would never turn his back on people in need if he survived the war, he assisted expats and helped to educate young people about the Holocaust.

On a recent visit home to Toronto, I met with Lara Hana Brady, daughter of George Brady, to find out more about his life story, going right back to his idyllic early childhood in Moravia.

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Author: Amelia Mola-Schmidt

Photo: Lenka Kratochvílová, Czech Radio

Archaeologists from the central Moravian city of Přerov have announced a unique discovery. While carrying out excavations in the centre of the town, they came across an ice skate made of animal bone dating back some 1,000 years.

Experts from the Comenius Museum in Přerov, a town situated on the River Bečva, have been carrying out rescue digs in the basement of a house located on the city’s Upper Square. While sifting through the soil, they unearthed a bone skate dating back to the 10th or 11th century. Archaeologist Zdeněk Schenk says it was most likely made of horse shin bone:

“The object has a specific shape. On one side, it is curved into a tip which has a hole drilled in it and there is another hole at the back. They were used to thread a strap through, which was used to attach the skate to a shoe or to a wooden sledge.”

See the rest here.

Author: Ruth Fraňková

Photo: Czech Television

At the start of her career, Věra Bílá soared on the wings of her incredible talent. She sold out concert halls all over the world; in France she won the award for Best Album of the Year in the world music category for her debut album Rom-Pop.

Newspapers such as The Guardian and Libération described her as an extraordinary talent and did not spare words such as “star” or “diva”. At a private concert in the White House, she sang for Bill Clinton and sold out concert halls such as the Olympia in Paris.

See the rest here.

Source: Český rozhlas

Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský awarded the Medal of Merit for Diplomacy to the outgoing Japanese Ambassador to the Czech Republic, H.E. Mr. Hideo Suzuki, who has been ambassador to the Czech Republic since September 2020

The Medal of Merit for Diplomacy has been awarded since 2019 for long-term contribution to Czech diplomacy, and foreign policy and for extraordinary merits in the development of international relations between Czechia and other states or international organizations.

Here are selected sections of the Minister and the Ambassador’s speeches at the event.

I met the Zoos Victoria Director Dr Jenny Gray after almost two years. In the administration building of Melbourne Zoo we talked about what had happened during that time. “And most importantly, after ten years of fruitless searching we found Victorian dragon. It went unobserved for fifty-four years and many considered it extinct. But we didn’t want to admit that.”

A moment later the “Victorian dragons” were being shown to me by their keeper. First the adult one, captured in the wild, and then a grown young, the very first, which was successfully bred in human care! With trembling hands, I quickly took a few pictures. Not many people have photographed this animal…

However, I should put the record straight about the term “Victorian dragon”. There are over one hundred “dragons” living in Australia, and in this case the taxon is called Victorian grassland earless dragon, Tympanocryptis pinguicolla by its scientific name. It does not have a Czech name, but agama viktorijská, or rather agamka viktorijská could be the proper name. After all it measures some 15 centimetres. Together with its overall expression, the colouration and a row of spines on its neck give this small lizard a certain dragon-like appearance.

Victorian grassland earless dragon was re-discovered last year in January. During a survey on the site, located west from Melbourne, which preceded its planned development, young zoologists Pat Monarca and Emi Arnold captured one specimen and sent its photo to the relevant Melbourne Zoo staff.

“My colleagues got thrilled,” Jenny told me. “It was like if a living thylacine was discovered. But then a deep disappointment came. After taking the photo, the finders released the captured individual back. What if no other one will be found?”

Fortunately, that did not happen. Although only two males and one female were initially found in the newly discovered locality of occurrence – too little for founding a rescue breeding, so another disappointment –, the number of captured animals was later increasing after all.

Step by step, Melbourne Zoo succeeded in collecting 29 Victorian grassland earless dragons originating from the wild. And in between (also thanks to experience with breeding a related species Tympanocryptis lineata) young were successfully bred. On the day of my visit there were 83 Victorian dragons in Melbourne Zoo.

Besides searching for more individuals at the locality of Waddawurung Country (recently also thanks to a search by specially trained dogs) and increasing the population of Victorian grassland earless dragons in the human care, the Melbourne Zoo keepers want to select five suitable localities where they will release the bred specimens. But there will still be a long way to go before that can happen.

“Melbourne Zoo is now the dragons’ zoological garden. Notice, that we call attention to dragons across the entire area,” Jenny pointed out to me when we were leaving the breeding facilities of the Victorian dragons. “We are the Dragon Guardians.”

Photo and text : Miroslav Bobek

Převalský’s horses run through the landscape of their ancestors in the Great Gobi B Strictly Protected Area in Mongolia. Such a sight will soon be a reality in the Altyn Dala steppe in central Kazakhstan. Photo by Miroslav Bobek, Prague Zoo

The first transports of Převalský’s horses from Europe to Kazakhstan will take place this June as part of the Return of Wild Horses 2024 project. Two CASA army planes with a total of eight horses on board will take off from the airports in Prague and Berlin on June 3. After stopovers in Istanbul and Baku, they will land in Arkalyk in central Kazakhstan on June 4. Then the transport of the horses will continue to the Alibi acclimatization center in Altyn Dala by land. The last wild horse will thus return to the steppes of another country in the interior of Asia after Mongolia. Representatives of the Prague Zoo, the Army of the Czech Republic, the European Association of Zoos and Aquariums (EAZA), and the Frankfurt Zoological Society (FZS) announced this today at a press conference in Prague.

“After the transport of Převalský’s horses to Mongolia, we are starting to write a new chapter of the return of the last wild horse to the area of its original distribution,” said the director of the Prague Zoo, Miroslav Bobek. “In Kazakhstan, we have chosen the Altyn Dala region, i.e. the Golden Steppes, as the most suitable area for the reintroduction of ‘rollers’. Our intention is to transport at least 40 horses there over the next few years.”

Převalský’s horse disappeared from nature at the end of the 1960s. The Prague Zoo, which has been keeping his world stud book since 1959, played a significant role in his rescue in human care. She was also involved in the later return of Převalský’s horse to Mongolia; most notably nine transports to the west of the country between 2011 and 2019. Now, in addition to the return of the ‘rollers’ to Kazakhstan, the Prague Zoo is also preparing a project to reintroduce them to eastern Mongolia.

Aerial view of the Altyn Dala area and the Alibi reintroduction and acclimatization center. It is there that Převalský’s horses will get used to the local conditions after transport, before being released into the wild. Photo by Tomáš Hulík, Prague Zoo

“Převalský’s horse is an iconic animal representing a successful story of saving the species: extinct in the wild, rescued thanks to the zoo, returned to the place of original occurrence. For the European Association of Zoos and Aquariums, this is precisely one of the key aspects of progressive zoos, i.e. their involvement in EAZA Ex situ programs (EEP) and their ability to connect this with efforts to protect in situ, i.e. the protection of wild nature,” said the president in his speech EAZA Endre Papp.

The goal of the “Kazakhstan” project is to transport at least 40 Przevalsky horses to the Altyn Dala area within five years, which will form the basis of the local population. Their transport will be provided by the Prague Zoo in cooperation with the Army of the Czech Republic and other partners.

“We expect to transport three stallions and five mares from Prague and Berlin by two CASA C-295M aircraft of the Army of the Czech Republic. We will send four horses with one machine from Prague-Kbely military airport, the other four will be sent from Berlin by Tierpark Berlin. Both aircraft will take off on Monday, June 3, 2024 after noon,” said Brigadier General Jaroslav Falta, Commander of the 24th Transport Aviation Base at Prague-Kbely Airport.

CASA C-295M aircraft of the Army of the Czech Republic were used not only for the transport of Převalský’s horses to Mongolia, but also recently for the transport of the lowland gorilla Duni from Spain to Prague. This year, a total of eight Převalský horses will fly to Kazakhstan on two planes at the same time. Photo by Petr Hamerník, Prague Zoo

The planes will fly to Arkalyk Airport with stopovers in Istanbul and Baku. The plan is to land in Arkalyk on the morning of Tuesday, June 4, releasing the horses to the acclimatization pen in Alibi after their ground transport the same evening.

“We already built a basic infrastructure on the site years ago, which was mainly used for the reintroduction of Asian kulan donkeys. The Alibi Center will now serve another type of ungulate, and after the necessary modifications, it will become the gateway for Převalské horses to the Golden Steppe,” said Steffen Zuther, a researcher at the Frankfurt Zoological Society, in Prague today. In 2006, together with her partners, she founded the Initiative for the Protection of Altyn Dala, which strives for the comprehensive protection of the steppe ecosystems there.

The Return of Wild Horses project is financed from the We help them survive account, which – thanks to the City Hall city of Prague – CZK 8 from each ticket to the Prague Zoo goes, among other things.

“I am very proud of the Prague Zoo’s in situ projects, in which I personally see one of the main purposes of modern zoos. Everyone helps a good cause by visiting the Prague Zoo. I am even more pleased to see the attendance of the zoo so far, which has already received over 130,000 visitors this year,” said the deputy mayor in her speech . City of Prague for the environment Jana Komrsková.

Further information, photos for use in the media or logos of all partner organizations can be found in the clear press kit. Czech, English and Russian language versions are available for download here: www.zoopraha.cz/kazachstan-2024.

The visual of the Return of Wild Horses 2024 is based on the concept proven during the transport of Převalský’s horses to Mongolia. The author of the visual for the year 2024 is the Czech illustrator and naturalist Jan Dungel. He captured a group of Przewalski’s horses, which is supposed to symbolize the target state of the project – a functioning population of Przewalski’s horses in Altyn Dala. The background color is based on the colors of the flag of Kazakhstan. Source: Prague Zoo

A memorandum of cooperation between all institutions involved in the project was signed last week, February 28, in Astana, Kazakhstan.

Institutions and entities collaborating on the project

The Prague Zoo maintains the World Stud Book of the Převalský horse as well as its EEP (EAZA Ex situ program = European breeding program). After World War II, she played a vital role in saving Převalský’s horse. Later, she came up with the idea of its reintroduction, in which she subsequently got involved. Her nine transports of Převalský’s horses from Europe to Western Mongolia were very significant. Now, in addition to preparing the transport of Převalský’s horses to Kazakhstan, he is preparing a reintroduction project for Eastern Mongolia.

The Forestry and Wildlife Committee (FWC) is a state department under the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Its task is the management and protection of nature and specially protected areas. It was his call to the Prague Zoo in the fall of 2022 that initiated the start of the project to reintroduce Převalský’s horses to Kazakhstan.

The Association for the Protection of Biodiversity of Kazakhstan (ACBK) is a national public association aimed at preserving biodiversity and educating the population. In a broader perspective, the Return of Wild Horses project is part of her long-term effort to reconstruct the original steppe communities in the country. ACBK is behind building the necessary infrastructure in the Altyn Dala State Nature Reserve. This was used in the past for the reintroduction of kulans in cooperation with the Frankfurt Zoological Society.

Tierpark Berlin is a zoo that has already participated in the breeding, management and reintroduction of various animal species in the past, while also cooperating in the protection of the Převalské horse. As part of the Return of Wild Horses project, it provides horses from its breeding facility, brings candidates from other European institutions to its breeding facility and will directly participate in their transport to Kazakhstan.

The Frankfurt Zoological Society (FZS) is an international organization coordinating projects for the protection of endangered species and ecosystems in 18 countries. In Kazakhstan, he participates in the protection of Tatar or Kulan saigas. In 2006, she co-founded the Altyn Dala Conservation Initiative (ADCI).

Nuremberg Zoo (Tiergarten Nürnberg) is a public non-profit zoo focusing on the ex situ protection of endangered animal species and their in situ protection in cooperation with partners in their countries of origin. In the past, she participated in the reintroduction of Převalský horses to Central Asia.

The Hortobágy National Park has already participated in the reintroduction of Převalský’s horses in the past, including in cooperation with the Prague Zoo. Currently, the largest population of Převalský’s horse lives on its territory outside the area of its original occurrence. Selected horses from this park will also be candidates for transport to Kazakhstan.

The Air Force of the Army of the Czech Republic , specifically the 24th Transport Air Force base based at Prague-Kbely Airport, ensures the transport of horses to Kazakhstan. They have also collaborated with Prague Zoo in the past, among other things, on the transport of a gorilla or nine transports of Převalský’s horses to Western Mongolia between 2011 and 2019.

Invest in Bravery is a project aimed at helping find investors for tech start-ups in Ukraine. It will be holding events in Prague – including a conference and workshops – on Tuesday and Wednesday and to find out more I spoke to David Nichols, co-founder of Invest in Bravery.

“Basically our focus is on supporting engaging with Ukrainian start-ups and businesses during the war, and also on positioning Ukraine as an undervalued and underappreciated asset or market for investment.”

See the rest here.

Author: Ian Willoughby

Photo: Petr Neugebauer, FEL ČVUT

Ordinary Czechs can now experience the life of astronauts on the ISS space station. Students of the Czech Technical University have developed a virtual reality application, which simulates a space flight, everyday life in orbit, as well as some of the problems that astronauts may face.

The “life in space” application was created by David Sedláček, head of the Virtual and Augmented Reality Laboratory at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering of the Czech technical University, together with a team of students.

See the rest here.

Authors: Daniela Lazarová, Karolína Burdová, Source:Český rozhlas

Photo: Naďa Krásná, Czech Radio

Before serving as a stylish backdrop to James Bond’s Casino Royale, this famous Czech spa catered to the world’s elite. In the course of the 20th century the Imperial Baths served monarchs, politicians and more recently film stars. The spa house has now been restored to its former glory.

The history of Karlovy Vary is linked to balneology. The town’s mineral springs and peat baths attracted people from far and wide and in the late 19th century, at the initiative of local physicians,  the town council financed the construction of a spa house that would cater to an elite clientele from Europe and beyond.

The Imperial Baths complex opened in 1895 and, in its day and age, it was the largest, most luxuriously equipped spa house on the Continent. Designed by the famous architectural firm Fellner and Helmer, it was not only a haven of luxury and privacy for the rich and famous – it offered mineral waters and peat baths that professed to have great healing powers.

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Authors: Daniela Lazarová, Jana Strejčková, Source:Český rozhlas

Photo: Wilhelm Rupp, Wikimedia Commons

One of the greatest names in the history of Czech music, Má vlast composer, Bedřich Smetana, was born exactly 200 years.

Bedřich Smetana (2.3.1824–12.5.1884) is one of the most influential figures in Czech music history, celebrated for his patriotic compositions and significant contributions to the development of Czech musical identity.

Born in Litomyšl, Eastern Bohemia, Smetana displayed musical talent from an early age, receiving his first music lessons from his father before later moving to Prague to study.

Smetana’s oeuvre is characterized by his profound patriotism and deep connection to Czech culture. His compositions, including the symphonic poem Má vlast (My Homeland) and the opera The Bartered Bride, reflect his fervent nationalism and pride in Czech history and folklore. Vltava, a movement from Má vlast, is perhaps his most famous work.

See the rest here.

Photo: Česká televize

The private library of the late Czech writer, translator and publisher Josef Škvorecký will soon open to the public in his home town of Náchod in north Bohemia. The town hall acquired the library and other items from Škvorecký’s family in Toronto, where the famous writer settled with his wife after the Soviet-led invasion of Czechoslovakia in 1968.

Thousands of books, but also dozens of music records are part of an extensive collection that used to belong to the famous Czech émigré writer, translator and co-founder of ’68 Publishers Josef Škvorecký. The items will soon become available to the public in his home town of Náchod.

See the rest here.

Author: Ruth Fraňková, Source:Česká televize

On Sunday, March 10, 2024, the Prague Castle grounds will host an Open Day. Visitors can tour the representative spaces, which are normally inaccessible to the public, for free.

They can also look into the Cathedral of St. Vitus, Wenceslas and Vojtěch, the Old Royal Palace, the Basilica of St. George or Zlaté Uličky.

The main visitor circuit will take interested parties through the representative premises of Prague Castle, in which the President of the Republic exercises a number of his constitutional powers – appointing members of the government, establishing ambassadors or receiving foreign statesmen. The route will also lead to several other normally inaccessible halls and salons in the western, central, and southern wings of the New Palace, which are used for organizing the most important protocol and social events throughout the year.

The representative premises of the Prague Castle will open at 9 am on Sunday, the last entry will be allowed at 4.30 pm. The entrance is the New Matyášová gate (map here).

Throughout the day, people will also have the opportunity to view other objects and exhibits in the Castle area, the Cathedral of St. Vitus, Wenceslas and Vojtěch, the Old Royal Palace, the Basilica of St. Jiří or Zlaté uličky (detailed information here).

The only exception is the South Tower on III. courtyard, which will be accessible only with a valid ticket due to capacity and security reasons.

During the open day, visitors can view the exhibitions in the Prague Castle Gallery, the Rožmberk Palace and the Powder Tower (Mihulka), which houses a permanent exhibition of history of the Castle Guard (more information here).

In addition, from March 1, 2024, the gardens of the Prague Castle – the Royal Garden, the Deer Moat and the Southern Gardens – will be exceptionally open.

The Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies, Markéta Pekarová Adamová, took part in the summit of chairpersons of parliaments in Paris. Among the main topics discussed were equal opportunities for women in politics and the current issue of violence against women. The summit, which was attended by leading female politicians from 25 countries, Europe, Asia, Africa, north America and Oceania was held on the eve of International Women’s Day. French President Emmanuel Macron also received the participants.

The Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies of the Parliament of the Czech Republic, Markéta Pekarová Adamová, took part in a two-day summit of chairpersons of parliaments in Paris. The summit, which was attended by female politicians from 25 countries, was held on the eve of International Women’s Day hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron at the Elysee Palace.

The joint meeting was divided into two broader thematic blocks. The first was devoted mainly to issues of equal opportunities for women and men in high politics.

“The representation of women in our Chamber of Deputies increased after the last election. It currently stands at 25%, which is the highest ratio to date. Nevertheless, this is a low number and it is still true that the experience and perspectives of women in Czech politics and in many other decision-making positions are often noticeably lacking. The fair involvement of women and men in decision-making is not only a question of abstract human rights, but a basic prerequisite for the effective creation and implementation of concrete public policies,” said the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies, Markéta Pekarová Adamová.

The second thematic block then focused on the current issue of violence against women. “Even the forms of violence against women evolve over time. This happens especially in connection with the growth of new social media. That is why the prevention and fight against cyber violence has become a priority of our government. We will include the issue of gender-based violence and its new forms in basic education to strengthen its prevention. We will also continue to educate those helping victims of these forms of violence to ensure they are treated sensitively and have access to justice. Last but not least, existing legislation needs to be reviewed to ensure that it provides adequate protection to victims. For that purpose, last month in the House of Representatives we approved an amendment to the Criminal Code, which, among other things, changes the definition of rape from forcefully forced to non-consensual sexual intercourse,” added House Speaker Markéta Pekarová Adamová.

Photo: One World

The 26th edition of the One World festival of human rights films gets underway in Prague in just under a fortnight’s time. For the first time the showcase is also including fiction films this year – but what has not changed is the breadth of projects from all corners of the globe.

The powerful documentary 20 Days in Mariupol, hotly tipped to win an Academy Award, is set to open the 26th edition of One World, which prides itself on being one of the planet’s biggest showcases of films focused on human rights.

See more here.

Author: Ian Willoughby

H.E. Mr. Hoai Nam Duong, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam based in Prague.

On Monday, March 4, 2024, at Prague Castle, the President of the Republic Petr Pavel received the credentials of the new ambassadors to the Czech Republic:

H.E. Mr. Stéphane Crouzat, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the French Republic to based in Prague,

H.E. Mr. Thyra Chheang, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Kingdom of Cambodia based in Berlin.

Photo: Klára Stejskalová, Radio Prague International

The National Czech and Slovak Museum and Library in Cedar Rapids, Iowa is the foremost institution of its kind in the United States – and this year is marking the anniversary of its founding in 1974. How is the museum and library celebrating 50 years of existence? And what state is it in today? To find out, I invited its director of community outreach and development, Andy Whiting, into our studios when he was in Prague recently.

What is your role at the museum and library?

“I am the director of community outreach and development at the National Czech and Slovak Museum and Library in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. I attend a lot of community events, and on the development side it’s fundraising for the museum.”

See the rest here.

Author: Ian Willoughby

Photo: Michal Šafařík, Czech Radio

Scientists from Brno’s Masaryk University have grown hundreds of ‘mini brains’ the size of apple seeds using stem cells from Alzheimer’s patients. The idea is to study the causes and development of Alzheimer’s right from the moment the brain starts to develop, rather than waiting until the disease has begun to manifest itself – which may already be too late.

Grown in Petri dishes and kept in incubators, these tiny brains, only about half a centimetre in size, may hold the key to discovering the long-sought-after cause of Alzheimer’s disease, which is responsible for 60 to 70 percent of cases of dementia and is the seventh leading cause of death in the United States.

See the rest here.

Authors: Anna Fodor, Michal Šafařík, Source:iROZHLAS.cz

France’s president Emmanuel Macron recently refused to rule out the deployment of Western troops to Ukraine and that position appeared to find support from his Czech counterpart in Prague on Tuesday. Petr Pavel said combat troops could not be deployed – but sending instructors to the war-ravaged country was an option.

The Czech President Petr Pavel welcomed France’s head of state, Emmanuel Macron, to Prague Castle just before noon on Tuesday.

The two leaders then conducted longer than anticipated behind closed doors talks, with support for Ukraine dominating proceedings.

Speaking to the media afterward, Mr. Macron reiterated that Russia must not be allowed to triumph.

See the rest here.

Author: Ian Willoughby

Karel Kryl, sometimes referred to as ‘the Czech Bob Dylan’ because of his complex and poetic lyrics on political themes, died 30 years ago today, a month shy of his 50th birthday. Kryl was one of the best-known Czech folk musicians of the communist era, famous for his protest songs critical of the Czechoslovak communist regime like Bratříčku zavírej vrátka (Close the Gate, Little Brother), composed in response to the 1968 Warsaw Pact invasion of Czechoslovakia.

See the rest here.

Photo: Dominik Táborský

A forgotten sculpture by the visionary Czech-born architect Jan Kaplický was recently discovered in a factory in Italy. The giant stainless steel water drop, designed 20 years ago for the Triennale di Milano, will go on display in Prague later this year.

The object, called Acquae, was created by Jan Kaplický and his Future Systems studio for an exhibition in Milan called Dining Street Design. Ten selected architects were commissioned to present their design proposals for street food stands in collaboration with leading international brands.

See the rest here.

Author: Ruth Fraňková

Join us on a trip to the Hradec Králové Region – an area of mountains and skiers. Czechia’s highest mountain, Sněžka (1603 m), is located here. Our drone video will show you the diverse geography of the region, from the Giant Mountains to the lowlands around the Elbe – all from a bird’s eye view.

See the rest here.

Authors: Vít Pohanka, Barbora Navrátilová

The International Tourism and Regional Tourism Fair will occur from March 15 to 17 at the PVA EXPO PRAGUE exhibition center in Letňany. This year’s edition will offer a wide portfolio of domestic and foreign exhibitors, new and popular destinations across continents, and tourist pearls of the Czech Republic. Experts and the general public can look forward to the accompanying program.

Sri Lanka has become a HOLIDAY WORLD partner country for 2024, which is returning to the fair after a longer period. Its representatives introduce visitors to popular but also unknown attractions, such as untouched beaches for tourists, Buddhist monuments hidden in the jungle or pearls of colonial architecture, and others.

“Visitors will see exhibits from many distant destinations such as Indonesia, Peru, Thailand, or Japan. The island of Elba will be presented for the first time at the fair in Letňany, and of course, there will also be traditional tourist bestsellers such as Croatia or Slovenia and other countries close to the Czechs,” says the director of the fair, Janica Ciglianová.

This year, REGION WORLD boasts a partner region, which is the Moravian-Silesian Region. It belongs to the greenest areas of the Czech Republic and will surprise you with a number of tourist attractions, important monuments, and beautiful natural scenery. During the fair, visitors will also be able to see the most comprehensive offer of tourist locations, trends, and news from almost the entire Czech Republic. There will be inspiration for all types of holidays, a portfolio of offers for tours around our country, and overviews of attractive places in individual regions.

Busy day for experts

The HOLIDAY WORLD & REGION WORLD trade fair traditionally dedicates the first day of the event to the professional public from the tourism industry. Also this year, on this day, the program composition will be focused on professionals, who can already look forward to the 12th annual conference and educational platform Forum of Tourism organized by the CzechTourism agency on March 15. It deals with current and future tourism challenges that fundamentally affect foreign and domestic visitors to the Czech Republic.

“Within the 12th year of this professional conference, we will focus, among other things, on the discussion of the influence of small and medium-sized companies and large corporations on the environment and social environment. During the panel debates, we will also talk about active and spa tourism. Our new Unexpected Wellbeing campaign focuses on these two key areas, the main idea of which is active tourism, which offers the possibility of sports, relaxation and rest during travel. Last but not least, we will definitely focus on the field of sustainable tourism. It is a topic that is intertwined across all travel activities. And how we treat the environment and take future generations into account affects the lives of each of us,” says František Reismüller, director of the Czech Tourism Office – CzechTourism.

Friday’s program for experts will also be enriched by MBM Tourism Prague with the possibility of personal business meetings of professionals, organized by the Enterprise Europe Network and the Center for Regional Development of the Czech Republic in cooperation with ABF, a.s., and the awarding of the Great Tourism Award 2023/2024, announced by the COT Group.

Workshop premieres

The first ever B2B workshop between Polish regions and Czech tour operators will also take place under the patronage of the Prague office of the Polish Tourist Organization. 13 Polish tourism organizations and another four dozen of their members will present themselves at it. The planned German national workshop will also be premiered, and the Montenegro workshop will traditionally take place within the fair.

During the first day of the fair, the winner of the Region of my heart survey organized by the editors of the Kam po Česku portal in cooperation with ABF, a.s. will be revealed and honored. held under the auspices of the Association of Regions of the Czech Republic.

Travel festival and caravanning

Visitors from the general public can win luxury prizes in several competitions as part of HOLIDAY WORLD & REGION WORLD, for example, a trip for two to the luxury hotel Nirvana with Ultra All Inclusive from Coral Travel CZ, a four-day stay in the Hohe Tauern National Park from ALPINmedia and Hohe Tauern National Park, three days in Salzburg with entry to almost three dozen attractions or a ten-day cruise for the whole family on the largest MSC WORLD EUROPA ship from the RIVIERA TOUR company.

On the weekend of March 16 and 17, PVA EXPO PRAGUE will also host the AROUND THE WORLD festival, which will offer opportunities to meet famous travelers, engaging lectures, workshops, tasting foreign foods, and a rich program from exotic dances to mandala painting, henna painting, and rasta knitting braids.

HOLIDAY WORLD & REGION WORLD also takes place in conjunction with the 15th FOR CARAVAN motorhome and caravan exhibition and the 7th FOR BOAT boat and water sports exhibition.

You can find more information at www.holidayworld.cz.

Photo: Zuzana Jarolímková, iROZHLAS.cz

The European Commission has responded positively to Czechia’s call for the abolition of the fee that Germany charges for the transit of natural gas through its territory. Following Thursday’s meeting of energy ministers in Brussels the Commission said it would look into the matter and consider possible action.

Czech Industry Minister Jozef Síkela on Monday filed a protest against the German gas transit fee on behalf of his own country but also Austria, Slovakia, Hungary and Poland, which hold a similar position.

According to Sikela, the introduction of unilateral fees for gas transit does not correspond to the EU solidarity agreements, which state that energy security is a common interest and unilateral fees undermine market integration and cross-border flows. He said the Commission had accepted his arguments.

See the rest here.

Author: Daniela Lazarová, Sources: Český rozhlas, Česká televize

The President of the Czech Republic, Petr Pavel, welcomed the President of France, Emmanuel Macron, at Prague Castle. The meeting followed the successful official visit of President Petr Pavel to France in December last year. On 5.3.2024, together, they continued to discuss support for Ukraine, further progress, and specific options for military assistance, including the Czech initiative to purchase large-caliber ammunition in third countries.

“We have the same view of how the situation in Ukraine is developing, how it should be resolved, in what ways, and on what horizon. We agree that the only way is to continue supporting Ukraine, not only because we see it as right in principle, but also because we do not want Russia to succeed with its vision of the world. We want to live in a world where the rules are respected and apply equally to smaller and larger countries. And we want to continue to build on these principles. If Russia succeeds in Ukraine, then we have lost in these principles,” President Petr Pavel said at a press conference.

The two presidents also discussed projects in transport and energy, among them cooperation with the French SNCF on the construction of a high-speed railway, a successful public-private partnership (PPP) project in the construction of the D4 highway, and a common interest in the development of nuclear energy.

An important point of the visit is also the signing of the fifth Action Plan of the Strategic Partnership, which has connected the Czech Republic and France since 2008.

President Macron will sign the Action Plan until 2027 together with Prime Minister Petr Fiala. The document regulates mutual cooperation in the field of European and foreign affairs, defense, security, asylum and migration, economy and trade, environment, transport and energy, social policy and health, but also science, education, and culture.

foto: Zuzana Bönisch

On average, women work more than two months longer to reach the same pay as men

This year, Equal Pay Day falls on March 6, 2024. It is a symbolic day that draws attention to the fact that, on average, women work 65 days more to reach the same annual earnings as men. According to Eurostat , women in the Czech Republic earn on average 17.9% less than men. After years of reducing the gender pay gap (GPG) – it reached its lowest level of 15% in 2021 – it is now increasing again. The steps to reduce were not systemic, but one-off. In the short term, the average earnings of women were affected by extraordinary bonuses during the Covid era, the increase in tariff bands for some feminized professions, especially in education, and the increase in the minimum wage.

In a closer comparison of the earnings of women and men in a comparable job category, we find the highest differences in the category of managers and legislators, where men prevail not only numerically, but also in terms of their earnings; the difference in median income for 2022 amounts to more than CZK 16,000¹ per month. Next comes the category of specialists, which also includes medical positions and teachers, where, on the other hand, women predominate, but the difference in earnings reaches 11,940 CZK to the disadvantage of women.

Even though women in the Czech Republic successfully complete tertiary education more often (6% more than men), it unfortunately does not ensure better remuneration for them. On the contrary. Among university-educated women and men, the gap in remuneration is by far the largest (25%) . The difference also changes significantly with age. The highest is between the ages of 45-49, when it reaches 23.7% , and the median wage is CZK 7,531 per month. These are the age categories when women often return to the labor market after a parental break, and due to the care of children and the household, which to a greater extent rests on them, they need to choose work strategies that primarily allow greater flexibility.

“Unequal remuneration is usually not intentional on the part of the employer. More and more of them are interested in actively finding out whether they have fairly set remuneration for women and men. It allows them to more effectively use and develop the career potential of all employees,” says Lenka Simerská , head manager Equal Remuneration , a project of the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs, which again this year became an expert partner of the Equal conference Pay Day . So far, flexibility remains the biggest support for Czech women . This means the possibility of working from home and other hybrid models including part-time work. I have been using them in this regard since last year discount on the insurance premium for reduced working hours in the amount of 5% of the total surveyors basis ̊ employee ̊. It is intended for people whose life situation does not allow them to work full- time , including parents of small children. Since the start of the discount, 22.6 thousand were newly created abbreviated tenure ̊.

“The Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs takes the issue of equal pay very seriously. We support and at the same time develop specific tools ourselves, the aim of which is, among other things, transparency in the labor market. The Equal Remuneration system project analyzes the remuneration of companies and other institutions. We allow employers to test the degree of fairness in the approach to remuneration, and we offer employees a wage and salary calculator that can show typical earnings according to relevant experience, industry, region and other criteria. We also address equal pay legislatively, for example in discussions about possible amendments to the Labor Code,” says Minister of Labor and Social Affairs Marian Jurečka (KDU-ČSL).

The organization has been contributing to changing the corporate culture for 15 yearsBusiness & Professional Women CR (BPWCR). She was the first in the Czech Republic to open communication on the topic of GPG and not only conducts a systematic awareness campaign , but through expertise, the presentation of female role models and examples of good practice, educational and mentoring programs, she succeeds in gaining interest in active solutions both among women themselves and companies. Among the core programs by which it supports women in their economic independence and at the same time contributes to the change of policies in companies , is the inter-company mentoring Empowering Women Mentoring , a UN Global initiative Compact and UN Women called Women’s Empowerment Principles and the Academy for Aspiring Women Entrepreneurs (AWE). During their existence, dozens of companies have participated in these and other programs and hundreds of women have gone through them.

“I feel a huge change in attitude, which gives hope that we will deal with the problem of different attitudes and the gender pay gap. When we started, most people did not know how to deal with this information, and many women claimed that such a difference did not apply to them. Gradually, however, more information came from us and from abroad, the first companies started analyzes of their situation and certification, the media became more interested in the issue. There are a number of companies that regularly address the issue and have programs that eliminate the differences,” says Lenka Šťastná, president of BPWCR .

The flagship project and the culmination of the campaign that BPWCR conducts throughout the year is the two-day international conference Equal Pay Day , which is a unique combination of conference and education. This year’s 15th edition with the theme of Opportunity will take place on April 11 and 12 in Prague and will feature three dozen performers and 80 mentors from the Czech Republic and abroad and will attract hundreds of men and women from management, business, public administration and diplomacy.

¹ Data provided by Equal Remuneration, all medians listed here are calculated according to CZSO 2022 statistics

Information for editors

About the project:

Project Equal Pay Day is officially registered worldwide under the world’s most influential organization Business & Professional Women International , which has consultative status in the UN (since 1947) and in the Council of Europe (since 1977) and was the initiator of organizing EPD worldwide. The Czech concept is so unique within the international organization that it serves as a model activity for other federations. The event contributes to establishing a societal debate and changing culture, meaningfully connecting women and strengthening their position. It also appeals to men, because the topic of equal opportunities should be a topic for the whole of society.

The European Commission classifies the EPD project as an important measure of the EU and its member states to support equal pay. The Czech conference is part of the global campaign of BPW International, which draws attention to inequalities in more than 100 countries of the world and also reports annually to BPW Europe on the European campaign for equal pay.

About BPWCR:

The goal of a public benefit company Business & Professional Women CR (BPWCR) is to support the professional growth of women at all levels and strengthen their economic independence. Through its projects, it contributes to the protection of women’s rights and overcoming barriers, emphasizing education and personal development. Key tools include mentoring, networking and showcasing female role models .

BPWCR’s vision is to increase the share of women in decision-making roles, minimize the gender pay gap and improve the full use of women’s talents. Other key international projects in which BPWCR participates include, for example, the UN Global project Compact Women’sEmpowerment Principles a Academy for Women Entrepreneurs .

Photo: archive of Evelyn Funda

Willa Cather’s novel My Ántonia is an American classic. Even though it is about Czech immigrants to Nebraska, it is virtually unknown in Czechia. It is a pity.

In this episode of Czechast, we delve into a unique intersection of Czech heritage and American literature, exploring the bonds formed by migration, identity, and the pioneering spirit. I’m thrilled to have with us a very special guest, Dr. Evelyn Funda, Emeritus Professor at Utah State University. Evelyn brings a rich Czecho-Moravian background and a deep understanding of the cultural tapestry that connects the Czech lands to the American plains.

See the rest here.

Author: Vít Pohanka

Classical music is one of the priority topics of the Czech Tourism Office – CzechTourism within the framework of cultural tourism, also in connection with the Year of Czech Music. This year’s edition, with the magic four at the end, will offer a unique opportunity to make the Czech Republic visible all over the world in this area. CzechTourism has prepared a whole range of activities through which it will present our country to the world as a musical powerhouse.

Classical music is a relatively specific segment and is currently among those in which there is considerable interest from tourists all over the world. The so-called “niche” tourism is developing more and more, i.e. tourism in which visitors focus on a certain “niche” and really specific topic. They want to learn as much as possible about it and “experience” it as authentically as possible. This is typical for classical music, often associated with a creditworthy clientele aged 50+.

“Music is an integral part of our lives in various forms. It can calm, encourage, make you stop, but at the same time it has a significant impact on tourism. Last year, for example, more than three hundred concerts and several hundred accompanying events took place within the twelve most important classical music festivals. Over 155,300 people went to them for a musical experience. And that is a really significant number. Guests from all over the world come to the places where musical events are held, and in the case of the big ones, such as the Prague Spring, the financial effects are in the order of tens of millions of crowns. In other words, it is an unmissable part of tourism,” presented by František Reismüller, director of the Czech Tourism Office – CzechTourism .

The Czech Republic may be a small country, but in the field of classical music it is one of the world’s great powers. Whether it is musical traditions, the number of world-renowned and recognized composers and performers, or festivals and concerts of classical music. Adherents of this genre all over the world know that when a Petrof or Amati brand appears somewhere, they can look forward to musical instruments of the highest quality.

“The celebrations of the Year of Czech Music are joined by festivals across the republic and the calendar year. They remind us of Czech music not only through the creators of the 19th century, but also contemporary composers and performers who spread the good name of the Czech Republic abroad,” says the president of the Association of Music Festivals and director of the Prague Spring festival Pavel Trojan, adding: “Prague Spring invited the Berlin Philharmonic, to perform Smetana’s My Homeland at the opening concert. At the same time, the Orchester Philharmonique de Radio France will perform at the festival to present the world premiere of a piece by contemporary composer Kryštof Mařatka, who works in the Czech Republic and France. For example, Dvořák’s Prague is planning an open-air concert, where the combined orchestras of the Czech Philharmonic and the Bamber Symphony will underline the symbolism that Gustav Mahler, as a Czech native, rightfully belongs to the celebrations of the Year of Czech Music. The Krumlov Festival notes the musical connections between Smetana and the Austrian composer Anton Bruckner, who is also celebrating his 200th birthday. They also emphasize women as composers in their program. The Pilsen Festival Smetanovské dny comes with the unique project Smetanomania, within the framework of which a complete performance of Bedřich Smetana’s piano work will take place over three days. The Litomyšl Smetanova Festival will perform, among other things, all the operas of its most famous native in a single year, and the celebrations of the bicentenary of Smetana’s birth resonate inventively throughout the entire program. The offer of Czech festivals is really rich – so I recommend visiting the website of the Association of Music Festivals of the Czech Republic and viewing the programs of all festivals.”

And it is music in the heart of Europe that those interested will be able to fully enjoy as part of the already mentioned Year of Czech Music , which will be carried in the spirit of the main message: “Music is us”. In addition to classical music, it will also offer other genres: from folk music to jazz to alternative. Top art programs, discovery efforts, exhibitions, theaters and events for the wider public and upcoming generations represent just a small taste of everything this year brings.

“One such year of four started the tradition of celebrating the Year of Czech Music a hundred years ago. This happened on the occasion of the centenary of the birth of Bedřich Smetana. The theme of Smetana’s time was the search for a Czech identity in a rapidly developing world. The same theme remains relevant even today, when 200 years have passed since his birth. Bedřich Smetana contributed to this discussion with a language that is still comprehensible to the whole world,” sums up the Year of Czech Music 2024 project, its creative director Aleš Březina .

“East Bohemian Litomyšl significantly influenced the artistic journey of Bedřich Smetana . Every year, the city hosts the international and at the same time the second largest classical music festival in the Czech Republic, Smetanova Litomyšl. The atmosphere of the event is enhanced by the exceptional locations of Litomyšl, whose castle complex is on the UNESCO cultural heritage list . And this year’s program will be record long, despite the ongoing reconstruction of the castle. Lovers of classical music and a romantic environment can look forward not only to an attractive program in the main festival hall, but also in other places with a unique atmosphere, such as the Piarist Church of the Finding of St. Kříže, in the castle stables, in Smetana’s house or at the nearby Nové Hrady castle. In recent years, open-air concerts in the Monastery Gardens have also gained great popularity,” adds Alena Horáková, director of the East Bohemia Destination Company .

The year 2024 will also bring a whole range of innovations in the field of classical music. One of the biggest attractions is the opening of Antonín Dvořák’s Birthplace in Nelahozevs , which is owned by the House of Lobkowicz. The exhibition will be open to the public from 1 May 2024. At the beginning of September, the entire area will be opened to the public ceremonially as part of the Dvořák Nelahozeves event. In addition to the museum, Dvořák’s birthplace will also become a place of inspiration, creativity and knowledge, where various workshops and educational programs will take place.

Cultural tourism is one of the fastest growing segments of tourism. According to the World Tourism Organization (UN Tourism), it accounts for 40% of tourism. In the Czech Republic, this is a particularly important area, because in the context of cultural heritage, an average of 40% of foreign guests visit the country in the heart of Europe. The most are French (43%), British and American (42%), Russians (40%), Germans (36%) and Austrians (35%). For many of them, classical music festivals are the biggest attraction.

CzechTourism is planning a series of activities this year. Their goal is to emphasize the role of the Czech Republic as the right destination for classical music. Whether it is the mentioned festivals and concerts or monuments and educational trails connected with important Czech musical composers. It will also focus on world music personalities, such as WA Mozart, who left a lasting mark on the Czech lands. The agency prepares individual activities both independently and in cooperation with partners such as Czech Centers, the Czech Philharmonic and Prague Spring. The range of events will be very varied – from a trip for Korean or Japanese influencers to an online campaign aimed at the Taiwanese market.

“Within Europe, we are preparing a presentation of the Czech musical heritage during the prestigious Finnish Savonlinna Opera Festival, at which the National Theater Opera will host the entire week. Our representatives will also participate in the event and present the Czech Republic to Northern European music lovers as a real and attractive destination where classical music really lives. In addition, we will also support the Year of Czech Music through a press trip, in which we will focus not only on the music itself, but also on world-famous composers. Last but not least, we are counting on the launch of campaigns aimed at Finnish classical music fans,” lists the director of CzechTourism’s foreign representation in Scandinavia, Lucie Vallin.

Continuously updated information about classical music, music festivals and early music festivals , but also about theater , museums and galleries or traditional crafts , simply about culture as such, is available on the Kudy z nudy tourist portal . People can find there, among other things, a calendar of events , but also partial directions, in Czech. In English, information about the beauties of the Czech Republic is available on the Visit Czechia.com portal . Part of this CzechTourism website intended for foreign tourists is the culture and entertainment section made up of subsections such as museums and galleries , theater and music or design and iconic Czech brands . There are also invitations to cultural events or information about world-famous domestic music composers.

“In order to cater even more to foreign people interested in classical music, during April this year we will launch a new website in 14 languages, where they will find practical information not only about this musical genre, but also about jazz,” concludes the Cultural Tourism Manager of the Czech Tourism Office – CzechTourism Jana Humpolíková .

“East Bohemian Litomyšl significantly influenced the artistic journey of Bedřich Smetana . Every year, the city hosts the international and at the same time the second largest classical music festival in the Czech Republic, Smetanova Litomyšl. The atmosphere of the event is enhanced by the exceptional locations of Litomyšl, whose castle complex is on the UNESCO cultural heritage list . And this year’s program will be record long, despite the ongoing reconstruction of the castle. Lovers of classical music and a romantic environment can look forward not only to an attractive program in the main festival hall, but also in other places with a unique atmosphere, such as the Piarist Church of the Finding of St. Kříže, in the castle stables, in Smetana’s house or at the nearby Nové Hrady castle. In recent years, open-air concerts in the Monastery Gardens have also gained great popularity,” adds Alena Horáková, director of the East Bohemia Destination Company .

The year 2024 will also bring a whole range of innovations in the field of classical music. One of the biggest attractions is the opening of Antonín Dvořák’s Birthplace in Nelahozevs , which is owned by the House of Lobkowicz. The exhibition will be open to the public from 1 May 2024. At the beginning of September, the entire area will be opened to the public ceremonially as part of the Dvořák Nelahozeves event. In addition to the museum, Dvořák’s birthplace will also become a place of inspiration, creativity and knowledge, where various workshops and educational programs will take place.

Cultural tourism is one of the fastest growing segments of tourism. According to the World Tourism Organization (UN Tourism), it accounts for 40% of tourism. In the Czech Republic, this is a particularly important area, because in the context of cultural heritage, an average of 40% of foreign guests visit the country in the heart of Europe. The most are French (43%), British and American (42%), Russians (40%), Germans (36%) and Austrians (35%). For many of them, classical music festivals are the biggest attraction.

CzechTourism is planning a series of activities this year. Their goal is to emphasize the role of the Czech Republic as the right destination for classical music. Whether it is the mentioned festivals and concerts or monuments and educational trails connected with important Czech musical composers. It will also focus on world music personalities, such as WA Mozart, who left a lasting mark on the Czech lands. The agency prepares individual activities both independently and in cooperation with partners such as Czech Centers, the Czech Philharmonic and Prague Spring. The range of events will be very varied – from a trip for Korean or Japanese influencers to an online campaign aimed at the Taiwanese market.

“Within Europe, we are preparing a presentation of the Czech musical heritage during the prestigious Finnish Savonlinna Opera Festival, at which the National Theater Opera will host the entire week. Our representatives will also participate in the event and present the Czech Republic to Northern European music lovers as a real and attractive destination where classical music really lives. In addition, we will also support the Year of Czech Music through a press trip, in which we will focus not only on the music itself, but also on world-famous composers. Last but not least, we are counting on the launch of campaigns aimed at Finnish classical music fans,” lists the director of CzechTourism’s foreign representation in Scandinavia, Lucie Vallin.

Continuously updated information about classical music, music festivals and early music festivals , but also about theater , museums and galleries or traditional crafts , simply about culture as such, is available on the Kudy z nudy tourist portal . People can find there, among other things, a calendar of events , but also partial directions, in Czech. In English, information about the beauties of the Czech Republic is available on the Visit Czechia.com portal . Part of this CzechTourism website intended for foreign tourists is the culture and entertainment section made up of subsections such as museums and galleries , theater and music or design and iconic Czech brands . There are also invitations to cultural events or information about world-famous domestic music composers.

“In order to cater even more to foreign people interested in classical music, during April this year we will launch a new website in 14 languages, where they will find practical information not only about this musical genre, but also about jazz,” concludes the Cultural Tourism Manager of the Czech Tourism Office – CzechTourism Jana Humpolíková .

Photo: Annie Spratt, Unsplash

Whooping cough has seen a dramatic increase this year in Czechia – at the last count there have been 1,666 confirmed cases since the start of the year, more than in the last four years combined. Over the last two decades, the only year that saw a greater number of infections was 2014, when there were over 2,500. But experts say that on the current trajectory, it is likely that the total number of cases this year will far surpass that. I spoke to Jana Kamanová from the Institute of Microbiology at the Czech Academy of Sciences to find out what is behind the sudden rise in infections.

See the rest here.

Author: Anna Fodor

Carp and seven groschen. That was the reward given to the brave defenders of Jihlava who managed to repel a night attack on the royal town in 1402. The town annually commemorates their heroic deed with a festival aptly named Carp Day.

Source: ČTK

Photo: Lasovsky Johansson Architects

Czech architect Juraj Lasovský has come up with a unique project reviving old military bunkers built in Czechoslovakia before the Second World War. His aim is to turn the concrete structures into liveable spaces that can be used for various purposes.

Soon after Adolf Hitler came to power in 1933, the Czechoslovak government started to build massive fortifications along the country’s border to sustain the first onslaught, something like a Czech equivalent to the French Maginot Line.

By September 1938, it had built around 260 heavy fortifications along with some 10,000 light pillboxes meant to deter and repel sudden attacks in key areas.

With the signing of the Munich Agreement, the system was never put to use. However, the dense network of concrete fortifications stayed entrenched in the Czech countryside to this day.

See the rest here.

Author: Ruth Fraňková

On the occasion of the Japanese Emperor’s 64th birthday and ending the term of the Ambassador of Japan to the Czech Republic H.E. Mr. Hideo Suzuki and Mrs. Suzuki held a reception at the Marriot Hotel Prague.

In front of the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies Markéta Pekarová Adamová, Mr. Jiří Drahoš, First Vice President of the Senate; and many Ambassadors, government officials, members of the Czech Parliament and Senate, and distinguished guests, H.E. Mr. Hideo Suzuki and Mrs. Markéta Pekarová Adamová, greeted the guests.

Here are selected sections of the Ambassador’s and of the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies speeches at the event.

On the occasion of the independence day of the Republic of Kosovo, H.E. Mrs. Albesjana Iberhysaj Kapitaj – Ambassador of the Republic of Kosovo host a reception at Kaiserstejnsky palac.

In front of many Ambassadors, government officials, members of the Czech Parliament and Senate, and distinguished guests, H.E. Mrs., Albesjana Iberhysaj Kapitaj and Mgr. Radek Rubeš State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs greeted the guests.

From left : Mgr. Radek Rubeš State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs , H.E. Mrs. Albesjana Iberhysaj Kapitaj – Ambassador of the Republic of Kosovo and Tomas Dub Deputy Minister for European Affairs of the Czech Republic

Here are selected sections of the Ambassador’s speech

Photo: ČT24

On February 25,1969, Jan Zajíc, an 18-year-old student from Šumperk set himself on fire to protest against growing public apathy to the Soviet led-invasion in 1968.

Zajíc set himself on fire in a passage off Wenceslas Square on February 25th 1969, close to the place where student Jan Palach made the ultimate sacrifice in an effort to rouse the nation a month earlier.

Zajíc, who felt that further protest actions were needed, committed the act on the 21st anniversary of the communist putsch in 1948. He had several letters with him urging the people to fight against the Soviet military occupation of Czechoslovakia.

See the rest here.

Photo: Ian Willoughby, Radio Prague International

Czechia took in roughly half a million Ukrainians following Russia’s full-scale invasion of their country two years ago. Many of these refugees have been young people, and to find out something about this generation’s lives here – and their outlooks for the future – I invited two 20-year-olds, Mariia Kostenko and Mykola Pashkov, into our studios.

What were the circumstances of you coming to Czechia? Did you come alone, or with others? Why Czechia?

Mariia (from Orichiv, Zaporizhzhska Oblast, south-eastern Ukraine): “I came here with my mom. I don’t actually remember all the war, all the situations, because, you know, for me it’s like in a fog.

See the rest here.

Author: Ian Willoughby

Photo: Rubicon

Czech composer, pianist and organist Jan Václav Hugo Voříšek was a contemporary of Beethoven and a good friend of Franz Schubert. His most famous work, the Symphony in D major, combines his natural inclination to romanticism with a surprising flair for drama.

See the rest here.

Source: Český rozhlas

Photo: archive of Polish Parliament

Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala is set to host his counterparts Slovakia, Poland and Hungary in Prague on Tuesday. The meeting of the Visegrad Four leaders comes against a backdrop of calls to cancel the summit after Slovakia’s Robert Fico made a speech widely seen as pro-Russian. I discussed the V4 today with Mats Braun, head of the Institute for International Relations in Prague.

“It’s a fairly loosely institutionalised form of cooperation, in the sense that they haven’t really built any institutions and so on.

“On the other hand, the cooperation has been ongoing since the early 1990s. It has a very developed system of having presidencies, with developed presidency programmes that cover a wide range of issues.

“That is also the case right now. You can go and you can find the programme of the Czech presidency, ‘V4 Citizens’, which outlines concrete agendas where the countries would like to have cooperation.

See the rest here.

Author: Ian Willoughby

The presidents of the parliaments of the countries of the Visegrad Group met in Prague’s Liechtenstein Palace. The parliamentary summit of the V4 and Ukraine was opened by the President of the Senate, Miloš Vystrčil, with the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies, Markéta Pekarová Adamová, who is organizing this event this year. Among other things, the speakers agreed on the need to promote the basic principles of human rights, emphasized the importance of getting rid of energy dependence on Russia, and strongly condemned Russian aggression in Ukraine.

“I am very glad that we have agreed that the Speaker of the Ukrainian Parliament, Ruslan Stefanchuk, will be an important guest at our meeting. This is proof that we all care about the fate of Ukraine and that we support its fight against the Russian aggressor. It is essential that we give space to the representatives of Ukraine to describe to us personally what is happening in this country. On the contrary, we did not fully agree on what it means to stand behind Ukraine. Whether it is about humanitarian support, support for the reconstruction of Ukraine, refugees, or military support. But I believe that our negotiations will continue. At the same time, we agreed that we are all aware of the danger of dependence on totalitarian regimes, especially on raw material resources,” said Senate President Miloš Vystrčil at the beginning of the meeting.

In the final statement, the presidents of the parliaments of the countries of the Visegrad Group agreed, for example, that the Visegrad Group is an important platform for consultation and coordination between the countries of Central Europe. According to them, there is also a fundamental need to promote basic human rights, freedom, democracy, and the rule of law. And they further emphasized the importance of getting rid of energy dependence on Russia, modernizing the energy infrastructure, and strongly condemning Russian aggression in Ukraine.

“Two years after Russia’s all-out invasion of Ukraine, we are at a critical moment. The security of Ukraine is inseparable from the security of Central Europe. Therefore, we cannot allow Russia to win in Ukraine. The Kremlin perceives not only Ukraine but the entire West as its strategic enemy. And if Russia succeeds in Ukraine, Putin’s military machine will not be stopped but will be encouraged to expand further. Therefore, our sustained and strong support for a defiant Ukraine must continue in all areas, including military, financial, and political. This year will be absolutely crucial for future development,” emphasized the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies, Markéty Pekarová Adamová

The Speaker of the Sejm of Poland Szymon Hołownia, Speaker of the Polish Senate Małgorzata Kidawa-Błońska, Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly of Hungary Csaba Hende and Speaker of the National Council of Slovakia Peter Pellegrini also took part in the parliamentary summit. In addition, this year’s format was expanded to include representatives of Ukraine, so the chairman of the National Council of Ukraine, Ruslan Stefanchuk, also took part in the meeting.

The proceedings of the V4 parliamentary summit in Prague were divided into two thematic blocks. The first block was devoted to energy security and the issue of migration. The second block discussed Russian aggression in Ukraine. It was in this block that Ruslan Stefančuk joined the negotiations.

“At today’s joint meeting, I expressed my gratitude to President Stefančuk for not only defending his own country with his fighting efforts, but also buying us time to strengthen our own defense and deterrence capabilities with our alliance allies, especially on NATO’s Eastern flank,” added the Speaker of the House Markéta Pekarová Adamová.

Before today’s summit, the presidents of the parliaments of the V4 countries and Ukraine already met for a working dinner, which was organized by Senate President Miloš Vystrčil on the floor of the upper parliamentary chamber on Wednesday evening.

Photo: Kateřina Šulová, ČTK

Czechs are marking two years since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine with commemorative events, marches, rallies and fundraisers taking place all around the country on Saturday.

In Prague, thousands of people gathered on Old Town Square on Saturday afternoon at the United for Ukraine rally in support of the Ukrainian struggle against Russian aggression.

President Petr Pavel held an opening speech, in which he said the goal of the war was not to defeat Russia, but to get it out of Ukraine and allow it to develop freely. According to the president, the West has no choice but to support Ukraine if it doesn’t want Vladimir Putin’s vision of the world to prevail.

See the rest here.

Author: Ruth Fraňková

Photo: Vršovické divadlo MANA

Two comedies written by dissident playwright Pavel Kohout in the 1970s with the intention of being performed in private in peoples’ homes are being revived by the MANA theatre in Prague’s Vršovice district – but not on a regular theatre stage. Instead, the plays are being staged in two small spaces that are evocative of the environments where they were originally performed.

‘Bytové divadlo’ or ‘apartment theatre’ is associated in the minds of most Czechs with dissident artists in the era of ‘normalization’ in the 1970s and 1980s, following the Soviet-led invasion of the country in 1968. Actors, playwrights and others working in the cultural sphere who were banned from writing and performing in public started holding private performances in their own apartments or apartments of friends.

See the rest here.

Authors: Anna Fodor, Václav Müller, Source:Český rozhlas

Source: Czech Radio Vltava

Saturday, March 2 marks 200 years since the birth of Bedřich Smetana, one of the most internationally renowned and nationally celebrated Czech composers. Czech Radio is dedicating a weekend of programming to the anniversary, a number of events are taking place around the country, and a special coin has been minted to mark the occasion.

Bedřich Smetana is inextricably linked with the development of Czech classical music and opera, the National Theatre in Prague, and the Czech National Revival itself, and as such is a national icon. So it is only fitting that in 2024, the Year of Czech Music and the 200th anniversary of his birth, a whole host of events be dedicated to him under the slogan Smetana200.

See the rest here.

Author: Anna Fodor, Source:Český rozhlas

Photo: Lewis Joly, ČTK/AP

The Paris summit on Ukraine appears to have kicked into action a Czech plan to purchase badly needed ammunition for Ukraine outside of the EU. After struggling to secure international funding for the project, Prime Minister Petr Fiala announced on Monday that 15 EU member states are now willing to back the purchase.

The Paris conference on Ukraine came at a time when news from the front is not good and a growing number of Europeans are increasingly pessimistic about the chances that Ukraine will be able to defend its territory successfully.

See the rest here.

Author: Daniela Lazarová, Sources:Český rozhlas,ČTK

Photo: Bene Meat Technologies

Czech company, Bene Meat Technologies, is preparing to put cultivated minced beef on the Czech pet food market within the next two years, pending EU approval. But is this country of meat-lovers ready to buy food grown in a petri dish?

If saving the world means becoming vegetarian, we may not survive. One in three Czechs die of heart disease, according to the Czech Statistics Office, and men on average eat their weight in meat each year. Climate and nutritional scientists alike have warned that this type of consumption is not healthy nor sustainable.

See the rest here.

Author:Ela Angevine

Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies Markéta Pekarová Adamová and President of the Senate Miloš Vystrčil held talks with their Ukrainian counterpart Ruslan Stefančuk in Prague. The main topic of the meeting was the continued support for the defiant Ukraine and the exchange of experiences between the parliaments. The meeting took place on the eve of the parliamentary summit of the Visegrad Group, to which even the leading Ukrainian representative was invited. The Czech Republic currently chairs the Visegrad Group.

The Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies of the Parliament of the Czech Republic Markéta Pekarová Adamová together with the Speaker of the Senate Miloš Vystrčil welcomed the Chairman of the Ukrainian Verkhovna Rada Ruslan Stefančuk in Prague.

“We have been supporting the European perspective of our Ukrainian friends for a long time. For this purpose, the Czech Republic also took the lead in the community of like-minded countries of the European Union. Through practical training and the systematic transfer of specific experiences between national parliaments, they set themselves the common goal of helping Ukraine on its longed-for path to the family of EU member states,” said the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies, Markéta Pekarová Adamová.

The meeting took place on the eve of the parliamentary summit of the countries of the Visegrad Group (V4). In view of the extraordinary geopolitical events, the highest representative of the Ukrainian legislature was also invited to Prague for this.

“We started the meeting of the presidents of the chambers of the parliaments of the V4 countries with an evening meeting. We will know the results of the meeting, which will partly take place with the participation of the Speaker of the Parliament of Ukraine, Ruslan Stefanchuk, tomorrow. Our opinions on Russian aggression in Ukraine are different, but the politicians are here to communicate with each other and look for a solution,” added Senate President Miloš Vystrčil.

“We invited President Stefančuk to the Prague V4 parliamentary summit, among other things, because it is obviously important to remind some politicians that the brutal aggression in our neighborhood was unleashed by Russia, whose criminal regime is responsible for the deaths of many thousands of innocent people. Kremlin propaganda is very intense and unfortunately finds fertile ground in Central Europe as well. It is therefore fundamentally necessary to oppose its targeted disinformation campaigns again and again publicly and clearly,” added the speaker of the House of Representatives, Markéta Pekarová Adamová.

The meeting of the leading V4 legislators will continue tomorrow throughout the day in the Liechtenstein Palace in Prague’s Kampa. Other topics discussed there will be mutual inter-parliamentary cooperation, energy security, and the issue of migration. The Czech Republic will chair this informal regional grouping of Central European states until the middle of this year.

Photo: Jana Volková, Czech Radio

The Pardubice Region has a varied terrain, beautiful castles and chateaux, a long tradition of horse-rearing, and is also famous for its sweet gingerbread! Check out its landmarks in our photo gallery!

Source

Photo: Barbora Navrátilová, Radio Prague International

Mezzo-soprano, improviser, lover of Dvořák – it would be nearly impossible to put Bella Adamova into a box. A classically trained singer, Adamova was born in Grozny but grew up in Prague and spent years abroad completing her musical studies. To date, she’s released two albums alongside her collaborator and mentor Michael Gees, their latest one being There is Home (2023). On our second episode of the Faces of Czech Music, we learn about Adamova’s sources of inspiration, and how she hopes to engage younger generations in classical music.

See the rest here.

Authors: Petr Dudek, Amelia Mola-Schmidt

Photo: Knihobot

Czechia’s Knihobot, which started out in a small second-hand book shop, has become a major name in the country’s resale economy. The service allows people to get rid of their old books for cash – and has made inroads into other markets in Europe.

Knihobot started up just five years ago at a used bookshop and is now Czechia’s largest seller of books, helping ordinary people put unwanted publications back into circulation, for cash.

Sellers keep 60 percent of the price, minus CZK 29, with the money going into their own Knihobot account.

See the rest here.

Authors: Augustin Hourlier, Ian Willoughby

Photo: Milena M. Marešová, Czech Radio

Preparations are in full swing for the annual international book fair and literary festival Book World Prague, which gets underway in May. Organizers have just announced that this year’s edition will honour the centenary of Franz Kafka. Unlike in previous years, the guest of honour won’t be just one country, but German-language literature as a whole. I discussed the upcoming event with its director, Radovan Auer:

“The reason why we decided to select German speaking literature as a collective guest of honour involving mainly by Germany, Switzerland and Austria, is that this year we have the 100th anniversary of the death of Franz Kafka. Kafka is the person who connects German-speaking literature with Prague, so that was one of the reasons why we made this decision.”

See the rest here.

Author: Ruth Fraňková

A new study monitoring the burden of toxic chemicals on the population recently got underway in Czechia. Researchers in four different parts of the country are taking samples of children’s urine and hair to detect the presence of toxic substances, including pesticides and heavy metals.

Harmful chemical substances are literally all around us. Toxic substances, such as phthalates, pesticides and heavy metals can be found in the air, soil, but also in food, food packaging or children’s toys.

A major European project, involving the Czech National Institute of Health, is now trying to asses to what extent we are exposed to these dangerous substances.

See the rest here.

Authors: Ruth Fraňková, Tereza Janouškovcová Bartůňková

An unusual research study is currently underway at Prague’s FAMU film school, focusing on the effect of sound on video game players. As part of the project, organised together with the Medical Faculty, participants are asked to play a horror video game while their vital functions are monitored. I discussed the project with Tomáš Oramus from the Department of Sound Design:

“We are trying to find out whether there is a difference when you are playing games in different formats, for example if you are playing with your headphones, stereo speakers or surround sound.

“We are asking questions about their feeling of immersion in the game or the sense of presence. We also measure their physiological functions, including the heart rate, breathing rate and electro-dermal activity to see whether and how different sound formats affect these functions.”

See the rest here.

Author: Ruth Fraňková

Photo: Poslanecká sněmovna ČR

The Czech Chamber of Deputies was considerably brighter and more colourful than usual on Tuesday. A number of MPs from across the political spectrum showed up for work in the traditional folk costumes of their region to celebrate regional and national diversity and folklore.

Next to the usual drab politician’s attire of a dark suit and tie, around 30 out of the 200 MPS in the lower house of the Czech parliament lit up the room on Tuesday by coming to work dressed in regional folk costumes. The occasion? The Day of Folk Costumes, which was marked in the Chamber of Deputies in Prague by the opening of an exhibition featuring 50 newly-made folk costumes for men, women and children based on real historical models from 1820 to 1920, when the tradition of wearing folk costumes or ‘kroje’ was at its peak.

See the rest here.

Author: Anna Fodor, Sources:CNN Prima News, Aktuálně.cz, iROZHLAS.cz

Czech MPs have approved broader rights for people in same-sex unions. However in a vote on Wednesday they stopped short of approving same-sex marriage or equal rights when it comes to adoption. I discussed the news with Czeslaw Walek, the head of Jsme fér / We Are Fair, a group pushing for marriage equality for many years.

“I won’t hide it, we are disappointed with the outcome. Because in the 21st century, in 2024, we expected that our politicians would reflect the will of the general public and would adopt marriage equality with full rights for LGBTIQ people.”

Opinion polls do suggest that most people are for marriage equality. But still, a lot of MPs have voters who are conservative or religious. Doesn’t Wednesday’s vote kind of reflect the simple reality of differing views in Czech society?

“I think it reflects the views of politicians, not of society. When you look at the polls, across different polling agencies, they show support for marriage equality around 65 percent, constantly.

“And I think the politicians should also look at what benefits the law can bring to citizens. It’s undeniable that marriage equality definitely brings more positive outcomes to the future of the Czechs than anything else.”

See the rest here.

Author: Ian Willoughby

Photo: Anna Kubišta, Radio Prague International

Dr. Anna Hájková is a Czech historian educated in Germany, the Netherlands and Canada. She is the author of the critically acclaimed book “The Last Ghetto: An Everyday History of Theresienstadt”, published in English by Oxford University Press. In this episode of Czechast she talks very openly about why she finds life in Britain easier than in Czechia.

Anna’s own family lived through some very tragic and dramatic times in history:

“My grandfather was sentenced to death in 1944 or 1945. He survived only incidentally because of the Prague Uprising in May 1945.”

These days, Anna lives with her French architect wife in London and teaches at the University of Warwick. She speaks very candidly about her experiences, shedding light on the challenges she has faced, including the sexism prevalent in Czech society, and the obstacles encountered by a queer, leftist, Jewish woman in Czechia:

“My wife and I have talked about it many times. She told me: ‘Czechia is even more sexist than France!’ And she is someone who left France because it was so sexist.”

See the rest here.

Author: Vít Pohanka

Photo: Patrik Uhlíř, ČTK

Large flocks of ravens, jackdows and crows swirl in the skies over Brno every evening. The birds have their winter roost in the forest between the Riviera swimming pool and the university campus in Brno.

Source: ČTK

Photo: Pavel Novák, Czech Radio

When Jiří Václav Parma fled from communist Czechoslovakia to the US in 1962, he sought to put down roots in a place that reminded him of home. He settled in Blue Knob, Pennsylvania, hung his “Bača” (sheep herder) hat on a stand and established a ski race that survived him.

Jiří Václav Parma was born in the Beskydy Mountains and had it not been for the communists taking over his homeland in 1948 he might have spent his entire life in the mountains he loved. But fate stepped in and when in 1962 he emigrated to the United States, Jiří sought to build a new life in a place that would feel like home. His son-in-law Carl Fletcher recalls how the family history in the US began:

“The history goes back to my father-in-law Jiri Václav Parma who immigrated here in 1962 from the Czech Republic in order to escape communism. And he found that the Pennsylvania Mountains were very much like those in his homeland, so he searched diligently and he found this beautiful mountain top and decided he would settle here. He built his home here and called it Salaš (Shepard’s Cottage). And the place became known as the “Salaš Hills” in our local community. He also helped other wonderful people from Europe to emigrate here and created this amazing community of European people that we are fortunate to perpetuate today.”

See the rest here.

Authors: Dušan Neumann, Daniela Lazarová

While Czechia’s arms industry has seen record exports in the last two years, its armaments makers are still facing one major problem, according to the country’s defence minister. Jana Černochová says international banks are making it hard for such firms to acquire loans or make payments.

The Czech minister of defence, Jana Černochová, held talks with representatives of over a dozen of the country’s biggest armaments makers on Monday. She says her officials aim to hold regular meetings with industry leaders, and not just in view of the war in Ukraine.

After the two hours-plus meeting, Ms. Černochová said the arms manufacturers had impressed on her that they were facing one major hurdle – banks.

See the rest here.

Author: Ian Willoughby

1. From the left: The Ambassador of the United States of America, H.E. Mr. Bijan Joseph and his wife, The Ambassador of Argentine Republic, H.E. Mr. Claudio Javier Rozencwaig and his wife.

21-02-2024 – The Ambassador of the Argentine Republic for the Czech Republic H.E Mr. Claudio Javier Rozencwaig and his spouse, host an Argentine Wine Tasting at their residence.

Mr. Martin Marek, sommelier of Alifea presented the Argentinian wine.

The guests were served Gurme Argentinian traditional food from “La Paisanita” and “Grand Fiero”.

Sommelier of Alifea, Mr. Martin Marek

From the left: The Ambassador of Spain: H.E. Mr. Alberto MORENO HUMET, Spouse of the Ambassador of Argentine Republic: Mrs: Graziella Maria SEMINO, Spouse of the Ambassador of Spain: Mrs. Blanca Esperanza Azqueta Oyarzun

On the left: The Ambassador of the Netherlands, H.E. Mr. Daan Feddo HUISINGA,. On the right: the Ambassador of Peru, H.E. Mr. Nestor Francisco POPOLIZIO BARDALES.

Empanadas from the company La Paisanita. Hand: Mr. Diego Acosta, Owner of the La Paisanita

On the left: Member of the Chamber of Deputies of the Czech Republic, Vice-Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee: Mr. Ing. Petr Beitl and Member of the Chamber of Deputies of the Czech Republic, Mr. Ing. Viktor Vojtko, Ph.D. Behind them: staff of the argentine embassy: Mr. José Luis Pascualli

On the left: The Ambassador of the United States of America, H.E. Mr. Bijan Joseph SABET, next to him Europe´s Rail JU States Representatives Group, Vice-Chairman, Member for Czechia, Mr. Miroslav Haltuf

Sommelier of Alifea, Mr. Martin Marek

Map of Argentine wine regions

Štramberk, Photo: Martin Friedel

The tourism and regional tourism trade fair HOLIDAY WORLD & REGION WORLD is one of the most important events in its field, and its 32nd year will take place from March 15 to 17.

The PVA EXPO PRAGUE exhibition center will be filled with exhibitions of attractive world locations, as well as presentations of most regions of the Czech Republic. This year’s partner region is the Moravian-Silesian Region, which will surprise you with a number of tourist attractions, important monuments, and beautiful natural scenery. Which ones are the most interesting?

Lysá hora, Photo: Martin Friedel

The Moravian-Silesian Region is one of the greenest regions of the Czech Republic, especially thanks to the extensive Beskydy, Jeseníky and Poodří mountains, boasting the picturesque meanders of the Odra River. In addition to forests, hills, and mountains, the region is full of historical, cultural or technical attractions. From time immemorial, it has been associated with the industrial sector, whose heritage and living links are attractively promoted and presented by Technotrasa, a virtual trail connecting technical and craft monuments across the territory of the entire Moravian-Silesian region.

“This year, Technotrasa offers eye-catching news, as three dozen existing partners have grown by five new ones. For the first time, visitors can see the medieval silver mine in Horní Město, a unique place where silver and iron ore were mined from the 15th to the end of the 19th century. The adrenaline tour will take them to two accessible floors connected by several corridors and ladders,” said Jan Krkoška, Governor of the Moravian-Silesian Region. Another unique item in the Technotras is the Futureum, a national cultural monument into which a former tipper and coal mill in the Dolní Vítkovice complex has been transformed.

PojezFest, Photo: Roman Fourcase Pelder

Region of culture and gastronomy

The Moravian-Silesian region is also rich in famous events, from the music festivals Colors of Ostrava, Beats for love, through sports events such as Zlatá tretra, Ostrava Beach Pro to parades such as NATO Days. Thousands of visitors visiting the region do not miss its beauty, the Lower Vítkovice area, where some of the mentioned events take place every year.

Visitors can complement the impressions of a visit to the striking region with a gastronomic experience, either at the Pojezfests, events that present the best of what the Moravian-Silesian region’s gastronomic scene has to offer at three locations in the region, or by visiting one of the businesses involved in the Pojez project. The offer is rich, including bistros, restaurants, breweries, cafes, but also farmers, local producers and bakeries.

North Moravia in Letňany

The region of the Moravian-Silesian Region is very popular with tourists visiting the Czech Republic, and last year alone more than one million people visited it. At the PVA EXPO PRAGUE exhibition center, its representatives will present the best that it has to offer at the exhibition. Visitors can also taste the famous, handmade Štramberské úši and other regional specialties such as the products of the Nachmelená opice brewery. Those who are not afraid of manual work can try how slate is cut.

Meandry Odry, Photo: Fotobanka MSK

Pearls from around the world

As part of HOLIDAY WORLD, visitors will see exhibits from popular as well as completely new destinations and areas, for example the Italian island of Elba, popular Croatia with its attractions, Slovenia, but also more distant destinations such as Peru, Indonesia and, for the second time, Japan. After a longer hiatus, he returns to Letňan Sri Lanka. Visitors from the ranks of professionals and the general public will find everything about tourism already from March 15 to 17 at PVA EXPO PRAGUE.

More at www.holidayworld.cz.

The Committee of Good Will – The Olga Havel Foundation commemorates the second anniversary of the war in Ukraine and continues its public collection for psychological assistance to Ukrainian children affected by the war. The foundation announced it in connection with the holding of the second annual Parliamentary Summit of the Crimean Platform, which was hosted in Prague in October 2023 by the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies of the Parliament of the Czech Republic, Markéta Pekarová Adamová. The funds obtained so far have been received by the Czech organization Amiga and the Ukrainian Save Ukraine, which, thanks to them, can provide assistance to up to several dozen Ukrainian children.

“Psychological problems are one of the most serious consequences of the war in Ukraine. The psyche and restlessness of people from Ukraine, and especially children, is worsened by the endless reckless Russian aggression, the intensification of the fighting on the front, and personal and material losses,” says Monika Granja, director of the Committee of Good Will – Olga Havel Foundation. “Post-traumatic stress disorders, anxiety disorders, depression, and, especially in children, sleep disorders manifest themselves in children and adults. Neglecting to solve these psychological problems could lead to an extreme deterioration of the psychological state, especially in children,” adds the director of the foundation.

The foundation’s financial contribution and collection for psychological help to Ukrainian children totals over 830,344 crowns and thus helped 56 children and teenagers. The foundation divided the funds between the organization Amiga, which provides psychological help to Ukrainian children living in the Czech Republic, and Save Ukraine, which focuses on supporting Ukrainian children illegally detained in Russia after their return to their homeland. The Amiga organization involves female therapists from Ukraine who fled to the Czech Republic before the war and found employment in the field of psychological assistance. Save Ukraine is the only NGO that regularly organizes rescue missions to repatriate deported Ukrainian children from Russia and operates seven Hope and Healing Centers where children and families stay for up to three months and receive shelter, humanitarian aid, and psychosocial support.

The Olga Havel Foundation continues the assistance provided to Ukrainian refugees immediately after the outbreak of the war in Ukraine. During two years, it donated financial and material aid of CZK 3,300,260 for this purpose. The collection to support psychological help for children continues and you can donate to it through the Darujme.cz Portal here.

Photo: Czech Women’s Lobby

A new bill recently drafted by the Czech government aims to see a minimum of one-third women in upper management positions in large companies. The draft aims to bring Czechia more in line with other EU countries, where the representation of women on company boards is already closer to 33 percent, while Czechia languishes at 21 percent. I spoke to Hana Stelzerová, director of the Czech Women’s Lobby, to find out how effective this proposal might be – and whether it goes far enough.

See the rest here.

Author: Anna Fodor

Photo: Šumava National Park

Can the growing numbers of wolves in Czechia’s Šumava National Park have a positive impact on local forests? For the next three years, scientists from the Czech University of Life Sciences will be seeking to answer just that question, by monitoring local wolf and deer populations.

In a famous experiment, carried out in the Yellowstone National Park in the United States in the mid-1990s, wolves were reintroduced to the area after more than a 70-year absence. By keeping the growing elk population in check, the wolves managed to revive the park’s forest, which ultimately changed the whole ecosystem of the park.

See the rest here.

Author: Ruth Fraňková

Photo: © Barrandov Studio a.s.

Photo: © Barrandov Studio a.s.

František Vláčil’s films Marketa Lazarová and The Valley of the Bees are considered masterpieces of Czech cinema. In 1998 he received a Crystal Globe award at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival for outstanding artistic contribution to world cinema.

His journey to cinema wasn’t a straightforward one. Vláčil, who was born in Český Těšín on February 19, 1924, first studied at the Academy of Arts and Crafts in Prague and then art history and aesthetics at Masaryk University in Brno. He was only introduced to filmmaking during his time in the army. He spent seven years there, during which he became a major, but also a director of propaganda films.

See the rest here.

Author: Klára Stejskalová

Photo: Czech Television

The war in Ukraine has been raging for almost two years, and refugees continue to arrive in Czechia. Although the majority find employment, it is often in precarious conditions, and over 60 percent of economically active Ukrainian refugees are working in jobs well below their qualification level, the government’s commissioner for human rights, Klára Šimáčková Laurenčíková, said this week.

As the second anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine approaches, refugees continue to arrive in Czechia – one thousand new arrivals each week, on average. And the ones that have already been here for months or years anxiously wait to find out if and when the war will end – and on whose terms.

See the rest here.

Authors: Anna Fodor, Zita Senková, Source:iROZHLAS.cz

The Chamber of Deputies will mark the upcoming second anniversary of Russia’s wartime aggression against Ukraine with a series of activities. The leadership of the House of Representatives, led by its Speaker, will take part, for example, in a memorial meeting at the Taras Ševčenko memorial in Prague. On Wednesday, February 28, the award-winning film documentary 20 Days in Mariupol will be screened in the parliamentary cinema hall. This will be followed by a panel discussion with representatives of non-governmental human rights organizations.

The Chamber of Deputies of the Parliament of the Czech Republic will commemorate the second anniversary of the illegal Russian military aggression throughout the territory of Ukraine with a series of events and activities. As of Friday, February 23, the facade above the entrance to the building from 4 Snemovní Street will be lit up with yellow-blue Ukrainian national colors for the whole next week.

On Saturday, February 24, at 11 a.m., the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies, Markéta Pekarová Adamová, together with the President of the Senate, Miloš Vystrčil, legislators from the leadership of both parliamentary chambers and representatives of the Embassy of Ukraine in the Czech Republic will participate in a memorial meeting at the monument of the prominent Ukrainian poet and independence fighter Taras Ševčenko on Kinských square in Smíchov.

“Taras Shevchenko is the author of the idea that we should not fight misfortune, but the one who causes it. Today and every day, Ukrainians prove that they are the true heirs of his legacy. For two years now, they have bravely faced Putin’s “three-day special military operation” and are not giving up their fight against overwhelming odds. But their fight is also our fight and we must not slack off in it, despite growing fatigue, or allow ourselves to be told that Putin is not in fact the aggressor and the main cause of misfortune in Ukraine,” said the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies, Markéta Pekarová Adamová.

On Wednesday, February 28 at 3:30 p.m., in cooperation with the non-governmental non-profit organization People in Need and under the auspices of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, a screening of the internationally acclaimed Ukrainian documentary 20 Days in Mariupol will take place in the House cinema. The screening will be followed by a thematic panel debate, in which the head of the non-governmental organization Almeda Marija Suljalina, the deputy director of the Divchata organization Darja Čekalova and the member of the parliamentary foreign committee Eva Decroix will speak together with People in Need director Šimon Pánek. In addition, a photo exhibition of children from Ukraine will be on display opposite the parliamentary meeting hall.

The public fundraiser, which was announced by the Speaker of the House in cooperation with the Goodwill Committee – Olga Havel Foundation, on the occasion of last year’s 2nd parliamentary summit of the International Crimean Platform, also focuses on psychological help for Ukrainian children. The collection, to which it is still possible to contribute here, has so far raised over 830,344 crowns and thus helped 56 children and teenagers affected by the war.

You can read the interview with Mr. Vitalii USATYI, Minister-Counsellor /Political Affairs/, Chargé d´Affaires – “They will never break our spirit” from our previous magazine issue here.

Photo: Tomáš Mařas, Czech Radio

Scientists at a university in Liberec are investigating the possible impact of microorganisms on the safety of an underground radioactive waste repository, which should be built in Czechia in several decades’ time. The main focus of their research is the impact of bacteria on radioactive waste containers.

According to a deadline set by the European Commission, nuclear powers stations in EU member states should have waste repositories in place by 2050. While Czechia is still searching for the right location for such a repository, scientists are carrying out tests in this area.

Experts at the Institute for Nanomaterials, Advanced Technologies and Innovations at the Technical University of Liberec are currently undertaking research focusing on microbial corrosion that could disrupt the container in which the radioactive waste is stored.

See the rest here.

Authors: Ruth Fraňková, Tomáš Mařas

Photo: Office of Czech Government

A Median poll published Tuesday reaffirms ANO’s long-term commanding lead among Czech voters. But the survey also suggests that the Czech Pirate Party, one of the smaller parties in the coalition, are now ahead of government leaders the Civic Democrats. So, what are the Pirates doing right? I put that question to political scientist Jiří Pehe.

“I think the Pirates are one of the most visible parties in the Czech government. They have two very good ministers. The minister of foreign affairs, Jan Lipavský, is considered probably the best minister in the Czech government. And the party chairman, Ivan Bartoš, is a good minister of regional development and is in charge of digitalisation.

See the rest here.

Author: Ian Willoughby

Photo: René Volfík, iROZHLAS.cz

President Petr Pavel made international headlines at the Munich Security Conference when he said Czechia could secure about 800,000 artillery shells for Ukraine – if partner states provided the funding. How realistic is this plan? And what would such a delivery mean for the Kyiv government? I spoke to international affairs and security expert Michal Smetana of Charles University.

“It may be realistic. It’s important to know that we are not talking about shells that are available in the Czech Republic – we are talking about shells that in partner countries abroad.

See the rest here.

Author: Ian Willoughby

Photo: Jitka Cibulová Vokatá, Czech Radio

The South Bohemian town of Hořice has a long tradition of passion plays which are intertwined with the family histories of its Czech and German inhabitants. One such family helped save and preserve the first known score for the Šumava Passion Plays from 1935 and have now donated the valuable material to the Society for the Preservation of the Hořice Passion Plays.

The town of Hořice in the Šumava mountains was once the site of some of the largest Easter passion plays in Europe, attracting tens of thousands of visitors from across the Old Continent. According to the local archives the very first passion play – in which people re-enact the trial, suffering and death of Jesus Christ – took place in 1816, when a local weaver wrote a script for it with the help of the town priest and 15 locals performed it.

See the rest here.

Authors: Daniela Lazarová, Jitka Cibulová Vokatá, Source:Český rozhlas

The second part of our video series on Czech Music Greats looks at a lesser-known name in Czech classical music – Jan Václav Hugo Voříšek. Despite passing away at a young age, he left the world a stunning symphony. Had he lived longer and written more of them, he probably would be much better-known today.

See the rest here.

Authors: Barbora Navrátilová, Lukáš Hurník

Photo: Anaïs Raimbault, Radio Prague International

The East Bohemian city of Pardubice, which lies on the confluence of the Labe (Elbe) and Chrudimka Rivers, is mainly associated with its production of gingerbread and the famous Velká Pardubická steeplechase. The industrial city also boasts a beautiful historic centre featuring a Renaissance castle. But what has recently put Pardubice in the spotlight are the newly renovated Automatic Mills designed by the pioneering Czechoslovak architect and designer Josef Gočár at the start of the 20th century.

The Automatic Mills are one of the most iconic buildings designed by Josef Gočár, who is regarded as one of the founders of modern Czech architecture. The monumental structure, standing on the bank of the Chrudimka River, was originally designed for the Winternitz brothers. Construction of the mills, built in red brick with stone elements, started in 1909. The façade of the towering, geometric structure was inspired by the ancient Babylonian Gate of Ishtar.

See the rest here.

Authors: Ruth Fraňková, Zdeňka Kuchyňová

Photo: Vladimír Šigut, Forum magazine

Kamila Kopřivová is Czechia’s first ever female rabbi. She was ordained in September last year and has since served as a rabbi at the Westminster Synagogue at the Kent House in London. The building is also a home to Torah scrolls that were confiscated by the Nazis from Jewish communities in Bohemia, Moravia and Slovakia during the Second World War. They were acquired by a British art dealer and brought to England exactly 60 years this month.

See the rest here.

Author: Ruth Fraňková

Photo: Gene J. Puskar, ČTK/AP

Chants echoed the Pittsburgh Penguins’ home arena on Sunday for the jersey retirement of the legendary Czech ice hockey player Jaromír Jágr. Jágr – who played 11 years with the Penguins – returned to the city he calls his second home to see his number 68 jersey raised to the rafters. But what is the 52-year-old’s legacy today? That’s something I discussed with Michal Dimitrov, a hockey commentator and sports journalist at Czech Television.

“From an early age, Jaromír Jágr was perceived as a big star. As a youngster, he was playing with players who were two, three, or four years older than him. He started playing in the Czechoslovak league at age 15, he was scoring goals from the very beginning, so it was clear a big star was evolving.

See the rest here.

Author: Amelia Mola-Schmidt

Photo: Hana Slavická, Radio Prague International

Record temperatures in many places in Czechia suggest that spring is just around the corner. In parks and gardens, crocuses, snowdrops and winter aconites are blooming.

Source

Photo: René Volfík, iROZHLAS.cz

A Thursday night screening at Prague’s Edison Filmhub of the film Utøya, about the mass shooting at a summer camp in Norway, provided an opportunity to discuss the aftermath of December’s shooting at Charles University. One topic was potential changes to Czech gun legislation, which guest speaker Jan Bartošek, who works for the Ministry of the Interior’s Security Policy Council, told me more about.

“Speaking purely about gun policy and the regulatory policy concerning firearms, it is definitely necessary after any tragedy or incident like the one in December, to have a really in depth public discussion about the system. It is perfectly understandable that the public discussions are focussed on the dangers that firearms can pose to public security.

See the rest here.

Author: Amelia Mola-Schmidt

Photo: Jan Vodňanský, Český rozhlas

Ladislav Nagy is not just a scholar, translator and academic. He is also an experienced jockey and trainer, and even a member of the Presidium of the Czech National Jockey Club!

In today’s episode, I have the pleasure of welcoming someone whose work transcends the beauty of language and bridges cultures through the art of translation. He’s a scholar, a critic, a translator of dozens of significant titles, and an educator shaping the future of English in the Czech Republic. Ladislav Nagy is the Director of the Institute of English Studies at the University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice (or Budweis), known for his self-deprecating sense of humor.

See the rest here.

Author: Vít Pohanka

Photo: Czech Television

The roots of punk rock music in Czechoslovakia are said to stretch back 45 years, to a concert by the alternative band Extempore.

The gig took place on February 23, 1979 at the Prague pub U Zábranských and featured some covers of songs by UK punk groups.

In this programme you will hear tracks from domestic punk outfits such as Visací Zámek, Plexis, ZNC, E!E, HNF and SPS.

See the rest here.

Photo: René Volfík, iROZHLAS.cz

Czechia ended compulsory military service two decades ago. Now, however, the head of the country’s army, Karel Řehka, says it may be necessary to bring it back – otherwise the state could have insufficient military reserves in future.

Military service was part of life in this part of the world from the Austro-Hungarian Empire on. Under communism it was typically for two years, and young soldiers were often sent to the opposite ends of Czechoslovakia from their homes.

In 1993 national service was cut to one year, before being abolished completely 11 years later. The Czech Army has been fully professional since 2005.

See the rest here.

Authors: Ian Willoughby, Kateřina Gruntová

Photo: YouTube

The Integrity of the Avant-Garde: Karel Teige and the Biography of an Ambition is the title of a book set for publication next month. Its author is US-born Peter Zusi, associate professor of Czech and Comparative Literature at the University of London. Zusi discusses his interest in Czech modernist prime mover Teige in a conversation that also takes in his own teaching work – and teenage years in a rock band with a future movie star.

Peter, you’re from New York – what led you to Czech?

“Cherchez la femme: My wife is Czech. I was in graduate school when we met. I was doing Comparative Literature, and primarily German Literature, but then when I was working on my dissertation we decided we would live in Prague, because it was possible.

“We figured events would take us back to the States afterwards. And then when I was there I just started poking around among certain authors who became interesting to me.

“I ended up including one chapter in my dissertation that was on Karel Tiege and the Czech avant-garde.

“Then when I finished the first job I got was in Czech literature and it has been, as they say, all history from there.”

See the rest here.

Author: Ian Willoughby

A quiet evening together, a walk in nature or the clouds, a visit to the blossoming castle greenhouses, the zoo, relaxation in the spa, or a candlelit dinner? Celebration of St. Valentine’s Day can take dozens of forms.

The Czech and Moravian regions offer a whole range of possibilities. An overview of the most original experiences was prepared by the Kudy z nudy portal. Including tips for interesting accommodations and trips.

Travel and Valentine’s Day have one thing in common – both are matters of the heart. Everyone who likes to travel can enjoy Valentine’s romance to their heart’s content.

“For all those who want to thoroughly enjoy this year’s Valentine’s Day, within the Kudy z nudy portal, Czech Tourism has prepared not only tips for well-known destinations, where many travelers go every year on Valentine’s Day but also tips from all over the world for undiscovered places, designer accommodation, relaxation and romance,” says František Reismüller, director of the Czech Tourism Office – CzechTourism, adding: “The Czech Republic offers an abundance of possibilities in this respect. We have beautiful nature, rich culture, and world-famous spas. After all, the new communication concept of the Czech Tourism Office’s 2024 and 2025 Unexpected Wellbeing campaigns will also refer to this fact.

For lovers of urban romance

Traditionally, the capital city is the favorite destination of all lovers. Prague offers a whole range of options, including a romantic walk across the Charles Bridge, which is the second oldest bridge in the Czech Republic and the oldest surviving bridge over the Vltava River. A picturesque corner with winding streets and small residential houses away from the main tourist industry will offer lovers the New World, where the famous Danish astronomer and mathematician Tycho Brahe, the famous architect Jan Blažej or the painter Jan Zrzavý lived in the past. History lovers will find a tangle of winding medieval streets, picturesque gables of burgher houses and romantic corners in Český Krumlov. Do you want to confess your love to your significant other closer to the clouds? If you are among the lovers of heights, then choose the above-ground panoramic Wallaška Trail with a glass viewing platform and a 150-meter-long suspended “Himalayan” walkway. You can also find a panoramic view of the surrounding mountain massifs on the trail in the clouds in Lower Moravia. At the same time, there is not just one path leading up, but a network of wooden paths that intertwine with each other. If your destination is South Moravia, then try the unique barrier-free lookout tower in Kobylí in Břeclavsk. From it you can see Pálava and, in good weather, the Austrian Alps. You can also enjoy the Valentine’s Day celebration during a romantic dinner at the Žižkov Tower.

Spa romance for two

Spa procedures and relaxation are among the most popular activities for two. And the Czech Republic has a lot to offer in this regard. Whether you head to Mariánské Lázně, Karlovy Vary, the mountain spa in Karlov Studánek or perhaps Konstantinovy Lázně in Pilsen.

For mystery lovers

You can draw positive energy for a long-term relationship between the walls and columns of the mysterious temple in Panenské Týnec. Václav Levy’s monumental Devil’s Head sculpture will appeal to you near Liběchov near the village of Želízy. And if you like mysterious places of pilgrimage, then you can head to the Praying mine near Svojkovo.

Castle romance

In addition to the vast park, the Lednice-Valtice area offers tourists access to several monuments left here by the famous Lichtenstein family. In addition to the castles in Lednice and Valtice, you will find several small buildings in the park landscape. The area is the largest conceptual landscape in the world, which is included in the list of UNESCO monuments. Romantic moments will also be offered by the Zbiroh castle, the castle in Rájc, where camellia lovers will enjoy themselves, or the Valdštejnů castle in Litvínov during a costumed tour called Cupid’s Chambers.

Together in nature

Those who prefer spending time together in nature can head, for example, to the Mumlav waterfall in the Giant Mountains, to the Czech Switzerland National Park, which is one of the most beautiful places in Europe, to admire one of the most beautiful views of the Vltava from the Máj Lookout, to reminisce at Panská skály the Proud Princess fairy tale or confess your love to your significant other in the Valley of Love in the Karlov Nature Reserve.

Unusual Valentine’s Day

Valentine’s Day can also be spent unconventionally, for example among animals. Ostrava Zoo or Prague Zoo offers special programs for lovers. During guided tours, visitors will learn which animals live in permanent pairs, what their courtship looks like, and who takes care of their offspring.

You don’t need to wait for next year’s Valentine’s Day to enjoy all those romantic offers. The Czech Republic is waiting for you al year around.

Photo: Czech Television/CHMI

On 11 February 1929 a temperature of -42.2 was registered at Litvínovice in South Bohemia. It was the lowest temperature since records began in Bohemia and Moravia.

The winter of 1929 was one of the coldest since records began in today’s Czechia and Slovakia. On 11 February 1929, temperatures fell well below -30 °C. The absolute lowest temperature was recorded in Litvínovice near České Budějovice at -42.2 degrees Celsius. In Jablunkov, in the very east of Moravia, the temperature dropped to -41.5 degrees Celsius.

Period press reports refer to major transport problems, including restrictions on the railway line between Prague and Bratislava, and a local transport collapse in Brno. In the Olomouc Region 70 percent of wild animals reportedly did not survive the deep freeze.

See the rest here.

Photo: Tomáš Kalous, Strom roku

Voting in the European Tree of the Year 2024 contest is currently underway. Czechia’s candidate is an unusually shaped pear tree standing in the middle of a field near the village of Mrákotín in East Bohemia.

The Czech nominee for the European Tree of the Year 2024, a wind-whipped pear tree standing in the middle of a field, was selected in the national round of the competition, traditionally organised by the Partnership Foundation.

The winner of the Tree of the Year contest was selected from five candidates that made it to the Czech national final. The pear received 6,433 votes out of 28,250, becoming already the third fruit tree and a second pear tree to dominate the national vote.

See the rest here.

Authors: Ruth Fraňková, Josef Ženatý

Photo: Vít Pohanka, Radio Prague International

Milan Kocourek is a former colleague of mine, boasts an illustrious career as a BBC World Service producer and reporter. Later he worked also for the Czech National Public Radio.

Milan and I discuss what it was like when he as a young student on a study stay in Scotland in 1969 made the life-changing decision not to return to the communist Czechoslovakia and stay in Britain:

“It was a hard decision to make on that particular day. But when I reconciled myself mentally with the fact that I shall see my parents, my folk, again, it was easy.”

See the rest here.

Author: Vít Pohanka

Photo: Tereza Brázdová, Czech Radio

The post-Christmas months are when many Czech families hit the slopes for skiing holidays. However, recent weather patterns have thrown a wrench in those plans for a snow filled getaway. Temperatures in the country are currently well above the seasonal average, a symptom of an ever changing climate, as Šimon Bercha, hydrologist at the Czech Hydrometeorological Institute, explained to me.

“The average temperature for the Czech Republic in January is -1.3 degrees Celsius, and for February it’s – 0.4 degrees Celsius. If you look out the window, it’s so much warmer than it should be right now. When it comes to snow, it should definitely be on the mountains and on the hills which are at medium sea level. The water storage in the snow covered areas should be six times greater during this time of year. Unfortunately, snow is only in the mountain regions, and we’re currently suffering from floods, rain, and melting snow, especially in the Krkonoše and Hrubý Jeseník mountains. The current state of the weather in the Czech Republic is how it would typically be at the end of March or beginning of April.”

See the rest here.

Author: Amelia Mola-Schmidt

Photo: APF Czech Radio

February 15 marks the centenary of the birth of the multi-talented Jiří Šlitr. With stage partner Jiri Suchý, Šlitr was a driving force in Prague’s ground-breaking Semafor theatre in the 1960s – but tragically died while still in his 40s.

Jiří Šlitr is best known for his work as a musician but, a man of many talents, was also a trained lawyer and skilled artist.

Born on February 15, 1924, Šlitr started out with a group from his hometown of Rychnov that were eventually named the Czechoslovak Dixieland Jazz Band. After that he was a touring pianist with the theatre company of popular actor Miroslav Horníček.

It was Horníček who in 1957 introduced him to somebody with whom Šlitr would forever be associated, Jiri Suchý.

Suchý, who is today 92, remembers the day Horníček brought them together.

See the rest here.

Author: Ian Willoughby, Source:Český rozhlas

Photo: MČ Praha 10

The Prague 10 district has just unveiled a new visual identity that works with various takes on the logo X, the Roman numeral for 10. This follows a similar move by Prague 3 some years ago, when it even started selling merchandise with a logo comprising three lines. But what is the value of this kind of branding? I put that question to top Czech graphic designer Pavel Fuksa.

“For me the branding of Prague districts is somehow a positive and natural evolution of the city’s identity.

“We’re all familiar with the overall sort of umbrella branding for Prague, that well-known red square with four lines of Prague being written in different languages.

“But that serves as a sort of overwhelming, generic Prague branding.

“For me, Prague with its rich history has always been a mosaic of distinct districts and quarters, each with its own unique character and spirit.

See the rest here.

Author: Ian Willoughby

Photo: Archdiocese of Prague

Victims of sexual abuse within the Roman Catholic Church in Czechia have written a petition calling for the resignation of the head of the church in the country, Prague Archbishop Jan Graubner. They say he knew about priests, and specifically one – František Merta – who was abusing children, and failed to take appropriate action. I spoke with one of the petition’s writers, Ladislav Koubek, who himself is a survivor of abuse, about the initiative.

Just for our listeners who may not be aware of this petition, could you please explain it?

“We were inspired by the recent events in Hungary, where the president of the country stepped down because she pardoned a person who covered sexual abuse. In the Czech Republic, there is the case of Archbishop Jan Graubner, who did something even worse. He knew about a priest who was sexually abusing children. Archbishop Graubner moved him from various parishes, and at each one, the priest sexually abused altar boys.”

See the rest here.

Author: Amelia Mola-Schmidt

On Thursday, February 15, 2024, at Prague Castle, the President of the Republic Petr Pavel received the credentials of the new ambassadors to the Czech Republic:

HE Mr. Ilir Tepelena, new Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Albania with headquarters in Prague,

HE Mr. Tolendy Makeyev, new Extraordinary and Ambassador Plenipotentiary of the Kyrgyz Republic based in Vienna,

HE Mr. Pa Musa Jobarteh, new Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of The Gambia based in Brussels,

HE Mr. Fekadu Beyene Ayana, new Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia based in Berlin,

HE Mr. Emil Krsteski, the new Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of North Macedonia, based in Prague.

photo: Zuzana Bönisch

The European Investment Bank (EIB) will be involved in supporting the emerging sector of affordable housing in the Czech Republic. This year, he will prepare a market evaluation and recommend a suitable form of financing for housing construction and renovations. The bank’s experts will also select specific projects with high potential. Among other things, the goal is to create a system that will be attractive to multinational investors as well. In Prague, the contract on the advisory role of the bank was signed by its vice president Kyriacos Kakouris – on behalf of the Czech side, they were the Minister of Finance Zbyněk Stanjura and the Deputy Prime Minister for Digitization and the Minister for Regional Development Ivan Bartoš.

Available rental housing in the Czech Republic will expand the offer in addition to owner-occupied, cooperative, social or commercial rental housing. “In many European countries, so-called affordable housing is a key part of the effort to find a way out of the housing crisis. We are working to ensure that it also plays an important role in the Czech Republic. These are long-term cheaper rents that even middle-class people can afford if they don’t own real estate. The goal is not to replace owner-occupied housing, but to offer a decent alternative, for example, to young people who, at the beginning of their careers, cannot yet afford a mortgage,” explained Bartoš.

“The low affordability of housing is a problem for many of our citizens, especially those who belong to the low and middle income groups. In the area of housing support, interdepartmental cooperation is therefore key, and it is thanks to it that we were able to sign the contract with the EIB today. Our goal is to support investments in rental housing projects that will meet the criteria of quality, energy efficiency and affordability,” said Finance Minister Zbyněk Stanjura.

The Czech Republic has so far lacked practical experience in the area of investments in affordable housing. The Ministry for Regional Development and the Ministry of Finance therefore asked the European Investment Bank for its advisory services in 2023. The cooperation agreement is the result of regular negotiations between the two departments and representatives of the bank. “I am proud that the Czech government is relying on the expertise of the EIB to fulfill this important goal, and I believe that our work will support the development of the affordable housing sector in the Czech Republic and attract investments from public and private sources,” explained EIB Vice President Kyriacos Kakouris.

This year, the bank will carry out a detailed analysis of the housing market in the Czech Republic and help prepare a strategy for the development of its affordable sector. EIB experts also identify a stockpile of housing construction and renovation projects. Following this, they will prepare suitable financing options, including a possible share of funds from the bank and other international partners. “For the coming years, we have negotiated about eight billion crowns for affordable housing in the Czech Republic from the National Recovery Plan – but we are thinking long-term. We are setting up an investment system that meets European rules, and above all, it will be permanently attractive to foreign investors,” added Bartoš.

This year, the MMR plans to start supporting affordable housing as part of the program of the same name under the State Investment Support Fund (SFPI). He is negotiating its terms with the European Commission these weeks. At least 2.25 billion crowns will be available in it for this year. In the next two years, the MMR expects another almost five billion crowns. “The program, as well as the entire concept of affordable housing, envisages intensive cooperation between municipalities and the private sector. We will therefore offer practical help to local governments with the preparation of projects – teams of experts will be available for them directly in the regions. We are also preparing concrete examples of construction and financing that will make it easier for them to implement the project,” added SFPI director Daniel Ryšávka. Investments in affordable housing are part of a broad reform of the Ministry for Local Development Housing for Life. It also includes, for example, a new construction law or a draft law on support in housing.

foto: Radek Vebr

Photo: Amelia Mola-Schmidt, Radio Prague International

As the population of foreigners in Czechia continues to grow, students whose native language is not Czech struggle to succeed in the education system, and are more prone to slipping through the cracks. META is an NGO based in Prague that focuses on supporting students whose mother language is different. I visited their classroom to learn more about the work they are doing.

Homogeneity is a word often associated with Czech society, but the landscape and population make-up of Czechia has been changing significantly. At the end of last year, statistics showed that foreigners accounted for 1.2 million people making up the country’s population. So how do those who are not originally from Czechia, or were born in the country but speak a different mother language, fare in the education system here?

To put it briefly, it’s difficult for many. But one NGO based here in Prague has been responding to the needs of students who are struggling within the Czech education system. META, based out of Prague’s Žižkov neighbourhood, is a non-profit organization that works to support students who don’t speak Czech as their first language, and guides pedagogues in the way they teach these students. Kristýna Titěrová – Director of Programs and Services at META, told me more about their mission.

See the rest here.

Author: Amelia Mola-Schmidt

It’s estimated that one-third of Czechs are vulnerable to disinformation and misinformation, says Veronika Víchová, an analyst at NGO the Centre for an Informed Society. But what’s the difference between the two, and what threat do they pose to Czech society? I put those questions to Víchová.

“A third of Czechs are vulnerable to both disinformation and misinformation. Often times, they cannot differentiate between what is disinformation and what is misinformation. The difference is in the intent of the person or entity that spreads these false narratives. But the person who is vulnerable and on the receiving end, may not know if there is mal intent or if it’s a mistake.”

Could you explain the difference between disinformation and misinformation further?

“They both describe objectively false information. Disinformation is spread with an intent to manipulate or change someone’s behaviour – the person who spreads it knows that it’s false. Misinformation can be an honest mistake, so it’s false, but there is not an intent of the spreader to manipulate or hurt someone.”

See the rest here.

Author: Amelia Mola-Schmidt

Photo: Slavomír Kubeš, ČTK

According to a local chronicle, the village of Sulislav in the west of Czechia celebrated its first Masopust (Mardi Gras) in 1785. Locals have been following the colourful tradition virtually every year since then and this year’s edition saw a record number of masks.

Source: ČTK

H.E.Mr. Hideo SUZUKI, the Ambassador of Japan to the Czech Republic held a ceremony for the appointment of Mr. Marek Hora as the Japanese Cuisine Ambassador in the Czech Republic.
The ceremony took place at the Ambassador’s residence.

This honorary position has been granted by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Japan since 2015 to a prominent figure working outside Japan in the field of Japanese gastronomy in order to increase the awareness and popularity of Japanese agricultural products, Japanese cuisine, and culinary culture abroad.

A total of 18 new ambassadors have been appointed to promote Japanese food and gastronomy. Their tasks include, among other things, providing advice to other persons in the field, participating in MAFF projects, and cooperating with the media.

Marek Hora the co-owner and chef of Yamato Restaurant has been contributing for many years to spreading the magic of Japanese cuisine in the Czech Republic and participates in the education of other colleague chefs in this art, who, like him, reap success in international competitions. In this year’s selection, he is one of eight ambassadors who are not from Japan and he is the first ever appointed from the Czech Republic.

We are looking forward to the opening of Mr. Hora’s new restaurant this year.

Photo: Heyrovský Institute of Physical Chemistry, Czech Academy of Sciences

Sixty-five years ago Czech scientist Jaroslav Heyrovský won the Nobel Prize for Chemistry for his discovery and development of polarography, becoming the first Czech recipient of the prestigious award. The discovery, however, was made much earlier, on February 10, 1922.

This Saturday marks 102 years since the invention of polarography, a pioneering method analysing substances in solutions, developed by Czech chemist Jaroslav Heyrovský.

Polarography is based on the relationship between an increasing current passing through a solution and the increasing voltage used to produce the current, and is used to analyse the types of substances in solutions as well as their quantities.

See the rest here.

Authors: Ruth Fraňková, Klára Stejskalová

Photo: Ferdinand Hauser, Radio Prague International

World War II, Cold War borders and more recently Russia’s full invasion of Ukraine – the “Czech hedgehog” has been common to all of them. The anti-tank obstacle made of metal beams is, as the name suggests, a Czech invention and dates back to the 1930s, when it was intended for border protection.

At the Military Technical Museum in Lešany, Central Bohemia, curator Lieutenant Colonel Jan Fedoseyev is surrounded by “Czech hedgehogs”.

“It’s a steel anti-tank obstacle. It was made to repel the tanks and armoured vehicles of that era. Development on it started in 1935 or 1936, when the Germans already had the Panzer I, II and III, and it was created to repel just such tanks. It was tried and tested – and full production began in 1937 and continued in 1938.”

Up to around 200,000 hedgehogs were made for Czechoslovakia’s border fortifications, intended to protect the young republic from hostile neighbours.

See the rest here.

Authors: Ferdinand Hauser, Ian Willoughby

Photo: Elena Horálková, Český rozhlas

This week’s Sunday Music Show profiles chanson singer, guitarist and composer Lenka Filipová, who will turn 70 next week. To mark the occasion, the Supraphon label has released her first, and perhaps the most popular album from 1981, called Zamilovaná or In Love. The singer, who started out as a classical guitar player and developed into a successful chanson singer recorded more than 30 albums in a career spanning more than 40 years.

See the rest here.

Photo: Petr Voldán, Czech Radio

Emil Holub, perhaps the best-known Czech explorer, was born in the Pardubice Region in 1847. His birthplace of Holice boasts the only museum in Czechia dedicated to Holub, who made vast contributions to public understanding of Africa in the latter half of the 19th century.

Emil Holub is to the Czechs what David Livingstone was to the British. He was born in the small town of Holice in the Pardubice Region and like Livingstone, he studied medicine and travelled to Africa to explore its previously unexplored regions. A museum dedicated to his life and career, called the African Museum of Doctor Emil Holub, was built in his hometown. Jitka Koudelková is in charge of it:

“Emil Holub was born here in October 1847 to the family of a local doctor, František Holub. The Holub family lived in the town for 10 years and little Emil attended the local school. He was a very friendly boy and a good student.

“Even though the Holub family eventually moved away, he put down such deep roots here that the people of Holice supported his trip to Africa. They didn’t support him just financially, they also provided him with good shoes, because this was a shoemaking village.

See the rest here.

Authors: Vít Pohanka, Ruth Fraňková

Photo: National Theatre Brno

Photo: National Theatre Brno

This year marks 200 years since the birth of the great Czech composer Bedřich Smetana. To mark the anniversary, the National Theatre in Brno has prepared a new staging of his opera Dalibor. Its British director David Pountney found inspiration in Bobby Sands, a member of the IRA who died in a hunger strike in 1981.

Bedřich Smetana’s opera Dalibor is based on the medieval tale of the Knight Dalibor of Kozojedy, who learned to play the violin in prison. The drama about revenge, passion and political intrigue was first staged in 1868 on the occasion of the laying of the foundation stone of Prague’s National Theatre.

The new, and very contemporary, production of Dalibor, premiered at the Janáček Theatre in Brno, earlier this month. I discussed it with its UK director, David Pountney:

“What’s interesting about the character of Dalibor is that he is on the one hand a murderer and somebody we would probably describe as a terrorist, but he is also clearly presented as a heroic figure. Not only is he violent but he also has one could say a deeply spiritual connection to music. So it’s a very unusual combination of features.

See the rest here.

Author: Ruth Fraňková

Photo: X of Emily McLaughlin

In August 2023, Canada appointed a new Ambassador to Czechia, Emily McLaughlin. Ambassador McLaughlin, whose career has spanned over 20 years in the Canadian Foreign Service, has previously held positions in New York, London and Hong Kong. Recently, I met with her at the Canadian Embassy in Prague to discuss her mission, her hopes of connecting with Canadians in Czechia, and the values that the two nations have in common. But of course, as a fellow Canadian, my first question was about Ambassador McLaughlin’s upbringing in Canada.

“I’m from the west coast – I grew up in a small town called White Rock, just outside of the city of Vancouver in British Colombia. It’s right on the beach, and we could see the United States from our house. Sometimes we would get up late and watch the Fourth of July fireworks. It was nice growing up in a small town that was close to the big city. We had a small hobby farm, and we always had a menagerie of animals, pets, and big gardens. It was a pretty nice life for a kid. My brother and I grew up playing in the forest around us and by the creek. It’s a beautiful part of the world, and holds a special place in my heart.”

See the rest here.

Author: Amelia Mola-Schmidt

Photo: Natalie Máchová, Czech Radio

The great Czech novelist, playwright, journalist and travel writer Karel Čapek, is world famous for his R.U.R. or The War with the Newts, but even his biggest fans are not familiar with the sound of his voice. Thanks to a new app made in cooperation with Czech Radio that is now possible.

Czechs are first introduced to the works of the great Czech novelist and story writer Karel Čapek through the popular children’s book Dashenka or the Life of a Puppy, first published in 1933. Later they discover Krakatit, The War with the Newts, The Insect Play and Tales from Two Pockets. But even people who know his works inside out would be hard put to bring to mind the sound of his voice.

The Karel Čapek Memorial in Stará Hut near Dobříš has now made that possible with a new interactive app created with the help of artificial intelligence and Czech Radio.

See the rest here.

Authors: Daniela Lazarová, Natalie Máchová, Source:Český rozhlas

Photo: Hana Slavická, Radio Prague International

The “zmijovka” hat is a common sight in Czechia in winter, particularly in the country. But it turns out it is also popular in parts of West Africa, where it is sometimes called a “Cabral hat” after anti-colonial leader Amílcar Cabral, who frequently wore one. The forthcoming documentary Beyond a Knit Cap focuses on this fascinating connection. And its director, former FAMU student Violette Deffontaines, says the inspiration came from the streets of Marseille.

“I was wearing my zmijovka and I met some Senegalese people. They stopped me and we started taking and they said it was a revolutionary cap for them. So it’s how I got the idea.”

See the rest here.

Author: Ian Willoughby