AuthorMartin Hladík

Photo: TEDx Prague

This year’s TEDx Prague theme, Metamorphosis, held on November 23 in Prague focuses on the topic of change. Here I interview the program lead for the event, Markéta Jedličková, to gauge the vision for the event and what attendees can expect. This year’s TEDx features a lineup of thought-provoking speakers and, even, musical performances, all aimed at inspiring listeners to explore new ideas and connect with the community.

Can you share the theme for this year’s TEDx Prague event and what you hope attendees will take away from the event?.

See more here.

Author: Jakub Ferenčík

Photo: Štěpánka Budková, Radio Prague International

In the Christian calendar, November 2nd is All Souls’ Day, during which believers are encouraged to commemorate their deceased loved ones and contemplate their own mortality. The day, known as Dušičky in Czech, remains a special occasion in Czechia, and architect Filip Ditrich shared with us some of his knowledge of Prague’s cemeteries that you too might like to visit.

The date of All Souls’ Day came to be fixed on November 2nd during the Middle Ages, specifically in the tenth century.

See more here.

Author: Danny Bate

Photo: Zuzana Jarolímková, iROZHLAS.cz

The future of Prague’s historic Vyšehrad Railway Bridge hangs in the balance as debates continue over whether to restore or demolish the landmark structure. A team of international experts has now put forward a study indicating that the iconic bridge could be repaired in just four years, with minimal impact on rail traffic.

According to the study, presented on Thursday by the Foundation for the Rescue of the Vyšehrad Bridge, only 15 percent of the bridge’s steel would need to be replaced.

See more here.

Author: Ruth Fraňková

Photo: Jolana Nováková, Czech Radio

One of the most impressive buildings in Prague’s district of Vinohrady is the Laichter House, located on the edge of Riegerovy sady. The modernist building was designed by famous Czech architect Jan Kotěra at the request of Jan Laichter, who needed a space for his newly established publishing house and a home for his family. The publishing house, which attracted Prague’s intellectual elite, operated until 1949, when it was closed down by the Communists. Today, the house is being cared for by Štěpán Laichter, the great-great-grandson of the publisher, who wants to renovate it and transform it into a museum and a cultural space. To raise funds for its renovation, he is offering one of the apartments for short-term rental. I met with Štěpán Laichter in what used to be his great-great-grandfather’s study to talk about the family legacy.

This house once belonged to your great-great-grandfather Jan Laichter.

See more here.

Author: Ruth Fraňková

Apartment prices in Prague have risen faster than anticipated, with the average price of new apartments reaching over CZK 160,000 per square meter by the end of September—up 5.

See more here.

Author: Vít Pohanka

On the occasion of the 101^st Anniversary of the Proclamation of the Republic of Türkiye and the Centennial celebration of the Diplomatic relations between Türkiye and the Czech Republic, H.E. Dr. Egemen Bagis – the Ambassador of the Republic of Türkiye to the Czech Republic and Ms. Beyhan N. Bagis hosted a reception at the beautiful Dvorana Hall of the National Museum.

The event was also a farewell reception to H.E. Dr. Egemen Bagis – the Ambassador of the Republic of Türkiye to the Czech Republic, and Ms. Beyhan N. Bagis who are ending their mission after 5 successful years.

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

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

Watch the video with the speech of H.E. Dr. Egemen Bagis, the Ambassador of the Republic of Türkiye to the Czech Republic, and of Mr. Jiri Kozak – the first deputy minister of foreign affairs of the Czech Republic.

Happy 101^st Anniversary Türkiye

The President of the Republic, Petr Pavel, and his wife, Eva Pavlova, received the members of the diplomatic corps at Prague Castle on Friday, October 25, 2024. This reception became a tradition before the ceremony on the 28^th of October.

Watch the video with the speech of The President of the Republic, Petr Pavel, and part of the speech of the representative of the diplomatic corps, the Ambassador of the Holy See H.E. Most Reverend Jude Thaddeus Okolo.

A member of one of the two fully habituated (i.e. accustomed to the presence of humans) groups of eastern gorillas, a female named Nyaba Deux with her twins. Photographed in 2022. Photo Miroslav Bobek, Prague Zoo

In the Congolese province of South Kivu, a new variant of mpox (so-called monkey pox) was identified this year, which gradually grew into an epidemic threatening, among other things, the critically endangered eastern gorillas in the Kahuzi-Biega National Park. The Prague Zoo was asked by the Gorilla Doctors organization for support in their protection, and it will provide 206 thousand crowns from the “Helping them Survive” collection account.

“We have been working together for a long time on the protection of eastern gorillas in the province of South Kivu in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and we have the best experience with the Gorilla Doctors there,” said the director of the Prague Zoo, Miroslav Bobek. “Our support is intended to help ensure that eastern gorillas do not become infected from local residents or directly from the guards of the national park. The funds we provide will be used to train health workers and community leaders in recognizing mpox symptoms, using rapid diagnostic tests, and implementing preventive measures. At the same time, one hundred mentioned diagnostic tests will be purchased as part of our support.”

Bonane silverback male, who leads one of the two habituated groups of eastern gorillas there. Photo by Miroslav Bobek, Prague Zoo

Eastern gorillas live only in the east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and according to several years old research, there are probably only less than four thousand of them left. In addition to the uncertain security situation and the rampage of various militias, which is linked to illegal extraction of raw materials, deforestation and poaching, another threat has now been added: the mpox epidemic. Its epicenter is located immediately beyond the borders of the Kahuzi-Biega National Park. Since August of this year, over 30,000 people have been infected, with roughly a thousand of them succumbing to the infection. The first two park rangers, who are in direct contact with the gorillas, recently found themselves in contact with the infection. The threat of gorilla infection thus continues to grow.

You can support the activities of the Prague Zoo to protect gorillas and other endangered species by donating any amount to the collection account “We help them survive” (ID: 43–680 466 0247/0100) or by purchasing souvenirs in the Prague Zoo e-shop in the section “We help them to survive”: https://eshop.zoopraha.cz/suvenyry/pomahame-jim-prezit.html.

Looking into the eyes of the leading male Bonane. Photo by Miroslav Bobek, Prague Zoo

Last but not least, they will also help by visiting the Prague Zoo, during which you can also drop off old mobile phones and tablets in the collection containers at the main entrance. By recycling them, the pressure on the extraction of raw materials in African forests is reduced.

The President of the Republic, Petr Pavel, appointed on Wednesday, October 30, 2024, pursuant to Article 62 letter k) of the Constitution of the Czech Republic and § 6 paragraph 2 of the Act on the Czech National Bank of Jakub Seidler as a member of the banking board of the Czech National Bank with effect from 1 December 2024. 

Speech by the President of the Republic after the appointment of a member of the CNB banking board here.

Photo: Tomáš Fongus

Photo: X of the Government of the Czech Republic

Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala and Vatican Secretary of State Pietro Parolin signed a treaty formalizing relations between Czechia and the Holy See. The document was 22 years in the making.

Czechia was among the few European countries that still lacked a formalized agreement with the Vatican, a delay rooted in parliamentary opposition in 2003.

See more here.

Author: Vít Pohanka

Photo: Ondřej Tomšů, Radio Prague International

On October 28th, Czechia celebrates 106 years since the declaration of Czechoslovakia as an independent state. Historian and political scientist Jan Adamec walked us through the history of the new country’s heads of state, from its first to its last.

Back in 1918, we have this new country, Czechoslovakia.

See more here.

Author: Danny Bate

Assem Al-Sabban, originally from Saudi Arabia, has settled in Prague after a career as a diplomat. He shares with us the story of his career, his move to Czechia, and his long-term passion for photography and the life of an artist.

See more here.

Photo: Zoologická a botanická zahrada města Plzně

The Plzeň Zoo has revealed that one of its rare Aldabra giant tortoises laid 31 eggs earlier this month. If the eggs hatch, it would be a global sensation, as this species has successfully bred in captivity in Europe only once before. However, breeders remain cautious, as it takes about 120 days for the eggs to hatch.

The Aldabra giant tortoise, one of the largest and longest-living animals in the world, is endemic to the Aldabra atoll in the Seychelles.

See more here.

Author: Ruth Fraňková

Photo: Miroslav Kobza, Czech Radio

On the grounds of Bouzov Castle in the northwestern part of the Olomouc region visitors come across a monumental wooden sculpture – a Trojan Horse with publicly accessible interior spaces. If the Greek myth were to be put to the test, this horse would accommodate a small army of warriors!

The story of the Trojan horse told by the Greek and Roman epic poets Homer and Virgil fires the imagination, and many people travel to Bouzov Castle just to see the wooden Trojan horse.

See more here.

Author: Daniela Lazarová

Photo: Ľubomír Smatana, Czech Radio

The Božena 5 de-mining system has been brought to the Kharkiv region by members of the Czech association, Team4Ukraine. The money for it was raised by Czech and Slovak organizations, led by the “Gift for Putin” initiative, in a public collection.

Božena 5 was brought by volunteers to a secret base near Kharkiv from Košice, Slovakia.

See more here.

Author: Jakub Ferenčík, Ľubomír Smatana

Photo: Vojtěch Berger, Czech Radio

This October marks 80 years since the Battle of the Dukla Pass, a fierce World War II clash on the Polish-Slovak border, where Nazi Germany and Soviet forces fought for control of the Dukla Pass. Nearly 2,000 Czechoslovak soldiers, fighting alongside the Soviets, died in the battle, but over 600 of them remain unlisted on any memorial.

The Carpatho-Dukla Operation began on September 8, 1944, with a goal to break through German lines to support the Slovak National Uprising.

See more here.

Author: Ruth Fraňková

Illustrative photo: Kampus Production, Pexels

Following a successful three-month test run in the Vysočina region, the Czech state is currently considering the nationwide extension of neighbourhood children’s groups, in which a maximum of four young children are cared for by a member of the local community, who is reimbursed by the state for their childminding service.

The Czech Chamber of Deputies is currently considering an amendment to legislation on the care of young children, which would give local responsible adults the opportunity to earn income looking after groups of four children, aged between six months and six years, in their own home.

See more here.

Author: Danny Bate

Photo: René Volfík, iROZHLAS.cz

Iva Bittová is a phenomenon in the world of music – not only in the Czech Republic from where she hails but on a global scale. Her art stretches across many genres, including jazz, rock, classical music and opera.

The avant-garde violinist, singer and composer, who has Czech, Romani and Hungarian roots, has developed a music style of her own, blending the music of many cultures and drawing deeply on her emotions and the sounds of nature.

See more here.

Author: Daniela Lazarová

Photo: René Volfík, iROZHLAS.cz

Bavaria wants to deepen its neighbourly relationship with Czechia, and therefore intends to improve the teaching of the Czech language in the region around their shared border. Six German-Czech bilingual schools are to be established in the next school year.

The intention to establish bilingual schools in the border area was announced in July this year by the Bavarian Minister-President Markus Söder during a meeting with the Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala in the Bavarian city of Cham.

See more here.

Author: Danny Bate

Photo: Jakub Ferenčík, Radio Prague International

Beneath Brno, the “10-Z Bunker” reminds visitors of Czechia’s complex history. Built during the Second World War to shield against bombings, the partially completed bunker provided refuge. Today, the 10-Z Bunker is open to the public as a historical site and hostel, offering guided tours through preserved technical areas, video stories, and artifacts like prison doors inscribed with messages from condemned inmates.

The “10-Z Bunker,” located in Brno Czechia, began as an air-raid shelter constructed during the Second World War to guard against both American and Soviet bombings.

See more here.

Author: Jakub Ferenčík

Photo: Divadlo Semafor

This Wednesday marks exactly 65 years since the first production of Prague’s legendary Semafor Theatre, established by the song-writing duo Jiří Suchý and Jiří Šlitr. The musical comedy, called Člověk z půdy or The Man from the Loft, was an immediate success, sparking a new era of Czech theatre.

The premiere of The Man from the Loft took place on October 30, 1959, at Prague’s Divadlo Ve smečkách and went on to have over 220 performances.

See more here.

Author: Ruth Fraňková

Photo: Daniela Pilařová, Czech Radio

Šumava National Park, in the southeast of Bohemia, will now allow the restricted shooting of its wolf population. Permission will be given to authorised individuals, to be carried out in instances of wolves that have become a danger to humans.

From this month, new regulations will be in place in the Šumava National Park, which allow for the controlled killing of the park’s wolves.

See more here.

Author: Danny Bate

Photo: Filip Jandourek, Czech Radio

Czech legislation allows a parent or guardian to request to defer their child starting primary school by one year. This measure, originally introduced to help children with serious illnesses or learning disabilities, has become so popular with parents that the Education Ministry has put its foot down and is taking measures to curb the practice.

Legislation allowing parents to delay the start of their child’s primary school education by a year is nothing exceptional in most European states.

See more here.

Author: Daniela Lazarová

Photo: Aleš Kartal, Pixabay, Pixabay License

New Leaf Czechia is a new project that aims to help the country’s homeless people with large, one-time financial donations. Inspired by a Canadian scheme of the same name, the Czech non-profit organisation Neposeda believes that these payments will not only allow the people involved to turn a new leaf, but also save the state money in future.

Neposeda, a Czech charity that has been working with children, teenagers, senior citizens and families for over twenty-three years, is trialling a new scheme intended to help the homeless.

See more here.

Author: Danny Bate

Photo: Zuzana Jarolímková, iROZHLAS.cz

At a ceremony marking Czechoslovak Independence Day on October 28, President Pavel handed out awards and high state distinctions to 56 people for outstanding services to the state. Among those honoured were soldiers, decorated in memoriam, artists and sportspeople.

Addressing an audience of 700 guests in the historic Vladislav Hall of Prague Castle, President Pavel said it is important to remember how fragile democracy is and the fact that it must be protected and nurtured.

See more here.

Author: Daniela Lazarová

Photo: Ian Willoughby, Radio Prague International

US singer Anne Marie Kenny first came to Czechoslovakia in 1990 at the invitation of President Václav Havel, who facilitated a concert for her at a Prague club. She later launched a successful employment and training agency and remained in her ancestral homeland for the rest of the decade. Kenny shares these stories and much more in her memoir A Song for Bohemia, which has just been launched in Czech under the title Moje píseň pro Čechy. We spoke at the café at Prague’s House of the Black Madonna.

I’d first like to ask you about your background.

See more here.

Author: Ian Willoughby

Photo: Škoda Auto

When Škoda merged with the German Volkswagen Group in March 1991, it marked the start of a rapid modernization for the Mladá Boleslav-based car manufacturer. One of the most significant symbols of this transformation was the Škoda Felicia, the first car designed by the Mladá Boleslav engineers in collaboration with their German colleagues. Its world premiere took place exactly 30 years ago, on 26 October 1994.

The name “Felicia” was a nod to the sporty open-top model from the 1960s, the most iconic Czech convertible to date.

See more here.

Photo: Barbora Navrátilová, Radio Prague International

“We all experience that in a certain way,” says Jiří Trtík on why Kafka’s Letter to his Father inspired him to write an opera celebrating one of the greatest and most intimate confessions in world literature. What makes Bedřich Smetana so special today? And why is the Vltava River not what it used to be? Listen to the newest episode of Faces of Czech Music.

See more here.

Author: Petr Dudek

Photo: Miloš Turek, Radio Prague International

A second attempt to auction off Štiřín Chateau, a luxury property and estate belonging to the state, failed this week when no bidder came forward to place the required auction deposit.

To encourage participation in the auction, the deposit was lowered to CZK 25 million, down from the previous CZK 30 million.

See more here.

Author: Daniela Lazarová

Photo: Lenka Žižková, Radio Prague International

Buskers and other street performers will not be able to use animals. Prague’s city council approved a ban in order to stop their exploitation.

The new amendment to the city’s ordinance prohibits not only the active involvement of animals in performances but also their mere presence alongside performers.

See more here.

Author: Vít Pohanka

Photo: Muzeum Komenského v Přerově

Archaeologists at the Comenius Museum in Přerov have revealed to the public an ancient sword from the Bronze Age, found by accident in a field close to the city. The sword was a star exhibit at the museum’s recent exhibition about metal detecting.

Only thirty centimetres from the surface, a field in the Přerov area for three thousand years hid an impressive sword and a bronze axe.

See more here.

Author: Danny Bate

Photo: Patrik Uhlíř, ČTK

The unique exterior of Villa Stiassni in Brno stands out admist a flood of autumn colours. The building was designed and constructed by the famous interwar architect Ernst Wiesner for the textile manufacturer Alfredo Stiassni. Its simple exterior hides a luxurious interior.

It has been open to the public since 2014, and since 2018 it can be found on the prestigious list of Iconic Houses, the global network of iconic houses from the twentieth century.

See more here.

Author: Lenka Žižková

On the occasion of the Hungarian National Day, and the Anniversary of the 1956 Revolution, the Ambassador of Hungary to the Czech Republic H.E. Mr. András Baranyi, and Mrs. Emese Baranyi host a reception at the beautiful Břevnov monastery.

Mr. Eduard Hulicius – the deputy minister of foreign affairs of the Czech Republic was the Honored speaker.

Mr. Vaclav Klaus – the 2^nd previous President of the Czech Republic, with his spouse Livia Klausová, and Mr. Milos Zeman – the 3^rd previous President of the Czech Republic, were the honored guests.

Watch the video with the speech of the Ambassador of Hungary to the Czech Republic H.E. Mr. András Baranyi ( in English and in Czech), and of Mr. Eduard Hulicius – the deputy minister of foreign affairs of the Czech Republic.

Happy National day Hungary!

The Ambassador of the Republic of Kazakhstan H.E. Mr. Bakyt Dyussenbayev hosted the opening of the Kazakh Cinema Days and the screening of the film “The Old Man”.

Watch the welcome speech of The Ambassador of the Republic of Kazakhstan H.E. Mr. Bakyt Dyussenbayev

The screening took place at the unique Kino Přítomnost. The film inspired by Ernest Hemingway’s “The Old Man and the Sea” was screened in its original Kazakh language with English subtitles.

Synopsis:

A small family – an old man, his daughter-in-law, and his grandson – leads an ordinary and unremarkable life in a distant steppe. They must not quarrel, though their communication is quite limited. They need to learn how to forgive and be wise so as not to spill the important truths along the way. It is essential for them to live humanly, and for the old man to pass on the key values of life to his grandson.

This is the great moral of the steppe: the necessity of doing good without expecting gratitude in return, the slow and unhurried flow of time without the thirst for profit or wealth, the simplicity and self-sufficiency, and the unbreakable connection with the legendary nomadic past of its present-day heirs.

An Important Notice: NO animals were hurt during the production of the movie.

The ambassador of Argentina to the Czech Republic H.E. Mr. Claudio Javier Rozencwaig and his spouse Mrs. Graziella Maria Semino, hosted an exclusive Argentine wine tasting presented by Mr. Rodrigo Schmidt, sommelier of MerkenWines, at their beautiful residence.

Watch the video and a few pictures from this friendly, happy, and tasty event.

SALUD !

The new wall calendar for 2025 of the Committee of Good Will – Olga Havlova Foundation (VDV) will help people with health disabilities. The author of the drawings depicting Olga and Václav Havel is the talented painter and illustrator Adéla Marie Jirků. When creating drawings, she was inspired by the photographs of Bohdan Holomíček and Ondřej Němek.

The christening ceremony of the calendar took place in October in the Václav Havel Library. VDV director Monika Granja, photographer Ondřej Němec, and a close friend of Mrs. Olga, editor of the Václav Havel Library, Anna Freimanová acted as godparents. Proceeds from the calendar sale will be used to pay for compensation and health aids.

Adela Marie Jirků’s drawings depict various moments from the life of Olga Havel, whether in the role of the wife of the dissident Václav Havel or later the wife of the president or the chairperson of the Committee of Good Will.

 “Our foundation’s cooperation with Adéla began last year when we approached her to create illustrations for a video spot for Olga Havelová’s late ninetieth birthday,” says VDV director Monika Granja and adds: “We believe that the portraits inspired by the photos of Olga’s “court” photographers and Václav will once again remind the public of the life and legacy of these two exceptional personalities. With Christmas approaching, the calendar can thus not only be a beautiful gift, but also an opportunity to help people with health disabilities.”

The author of the drawings, Adéla Marie Jirků (*1985), a gifted painter and illustrator, is a graduate of the Academy of Fine Arts in Prague with study experience from the Illustration studio at the University of Applied Arts and a one-year internship at the École supérieure d´art & de design Marseille-Méditerranée. In 2022, the wo-men publishing house published her author’s book Mařka, which won the SČUG Hollar Prize for its excellent illustration in the Most Beautiful Books of 2022 competition.

“When creating the illustrations, I approached the photographs with the utmost respect. We will not experience any more moments with Václav and Olga Havel, so I tried to put a new coat on the photos that we have already seen at many exhibitions and give them a story that would form a continuous line,” explained Adéla Marie Jirků about her motivation for creating the calendar.

The calendar is available at the VDV headquarters at Senovážné náměstí 2, Prague 1.

The price is 700 Kc, which is a donation.

In case of questions and interest, please contact:

Terezia Jenisová

PR and communication manager

Goodwill Committee – Olga Havel Foundation

M: +420 606 736 657,

E: jenisova@vdv.cz, W: www.vdv.cz

The Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies Markéta Pekarová Adamová together with the President of the Senate Miloš Vystrčil participated in the 3rd Parliamentary Summit of the International Crimean Platform.

Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies Markéta Pekarová Adamová and Speaker of the Senate Miloš Vystrčil participated in the parliamentary summit of the Crimean Platform. The meeting following last year’s event held in Prague took place, this time in Riga, Latvia. In her speech, the Speaker called on the participants of the summit to provide even greater political, economic, and military support to the defending Ukraine. Only in this way can Russia’s illegal occupation of Crimea be ended and a just peace achieved throughout the country.

“Keeping the issue of Crimea in the public mind is important, but it alone will not restore freedom to the people of Crimea. It will not help abducted children to return to their families. It will neither restore the territorial integrity of Ukraine nor serve international law. The only way to truly restore freedom and achieve justice in Crimea and in the whole of Ukraine is to win the war,” said the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies, Markéta Pekarová Adamová, in her speech.

A two-day summit of more than fifty leading representatives of legislatures from around the world took place this year in the Latvian capital, Riga. It followed on from the previous meeting organized last October in Prague.

“It has been 10 years since the illegal annexation of Crimea and more than 2 and a half years since the February continuation of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Unfortunately, it was only after February’s brutal and aggressive invasion of Ukraine by Russia that some democratic countries finally sobered up and realized that trying to achieve long-term peaceful coexistence with non-democratic countries by creating mutual strategic economic dependence was a mistake. The opposite is true. By supporting our strategic economic dependence on non-democratic countries, we increase the vulnerability of the democratic community. The continuation of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is clear evidence of this. Our job is to learn from this mistake. Ukraine’s future is also our future,” added Senate President Miloš Vystrčil.

Among the adopted conclusions of the summit is among other things, a joint condemnation of human rights violations, the kidnapping of Ukrainian children, or the arrest of political opponents in the territories illegally occupied by Russia. In addition, the participants pledged to insist on the thorough investigation and punishment of all war crimes committed by Russian troops.

“All the ingredients are known and available. More military aid without meaningless restrictions, more economic support, more effective sanctions, more intense political and diplomatic pressure. It is up to us, the political leaders, to mobilize sufficient political will and social agreement for all this. Many people in our countries are tired of war and fear its escalation. Our common duty is to achieve a just peace, which cannot be done otherwise than by winning the war,” concluded the speaker of the House of Representatives, Markéta Pekarová Adamová.

From 2021, the Crimean Platform brings together related world partners with the aim of jointly confronting the impacts and threats of the illegal Russian occupation of Crimea and coordinating international efforts to end it definitively.

Strasbourg, 22 October 2024 — As the new European Parliament mandate begins, mayors from across Europe are calling for a renewed partnership with MEPs to ensure the needs of citizens are at the forefront of EU decision-making. Highlighting ten priority actions, the mayors urge the EU to work more closely with cities to deliver real, tangible results by 2029.

At the core of this call to action, delivered at the European Mayors Summit in Strasbourg, is a shared goal: bringing the European Union closer to its citizens through a new “pact for cities” that drives coordinated urban action, accelerates climate efforts, improves affordable housing, and strengthens local economies.

“With over 75% of Europe’s population living in cities, it is essential that we have a central role in the development of EU policies that will define the lives of millions of people,” says Burkhard Jung, President of Eurocities and Mayor of Leipzig. “The many significant issues now confronting our society, including the rise of populism, the housing crisis and the impacts of climate change, require EU-level solutions that are implemented at the local level.”

Key priorities include setting ambitious climate targets, expanding access to social and affordable housing, promoting zero-emission mobility, and empowering cities to lead in digital transformation and cultural innovation. The mayors also stress the importance of involving cities in the EU’s enlargement process and securing investments that match local needs.

“As the new members of the European Parliament take office, this summit will ensure the united voice of cities, and therefore citizens, is heard in the new EU mandate. Together, we will show that a more inclusive, sustainable, and dynamic Europe starts in cities,” added Jung.

Photo Copyright of Eurocities and the City of Strasbourg

Source: Expo 2025 Osaka

Czechia selected 30 finalists out of 186 candidates for the cultural program at Expo 2025 in Osaka, Japan. The Czech presentation is themed “Talent and Creativity for Life.”

The Czech pavilion at Expo 2025 in Osaka will showcase a combination of traditional and contemporary Czech art.

See more here.

Author: Vít Pohanka

Photo illustrative: NATO

NATO has increased recruitment in response to global threats, including Russia’s actions in Crimea and Ukraine. In order to attract more candidates from Czechia, which ranks 22nd in representation of employees among NATO members, a NATO career workshop was held at the Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs. I went there to interview Assistant Secretary General for Executive Management Carlo Borghini to find out more about the application process, how applicants can make themselves more attractive, and more.

I want to start with a general question about recruitment for NATO’s ongoing operations.

See more here.

Author: Jakub Ferenčík

Photo: Czech Airlines

On Saturday 26th of October, the final Czech Airlines (ČSA) flight will take off from Paris and land in Prague, bringing to an end a century of aviation history. Having been one of the five oldest air carriers in the world, Czech Airlines will become just another brand in the portfolio of the Smartwings group.

Founded in October 1923, the first journeys offered by Czech Airlines – or Czechoslovak State Airlines as it was then – were domestic flights between Prague and Bratislava.

See more here.

Author: Danny Bate

Photo: Sabina Vosecká, Czech Radio

Visitors to Prague Castle are wowed by more than its majestic architecture and change of guard outside the main gates. A lot of attention also goes to the hawks that protect the site from pigeons!

The historic landmarks of Prague Castle, especially St.

See more here.

Author: Vít Pohanka

Photo: Danny Bate, Radio Prague International

At the Gratias Agit awards on October 17th, Dr Jana Fischerová was among those honoured for spreading the good name of the Czech Republic abroad. After the ceremony at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, she spoke to Danny Bate about her career and her comparative work on Irish and Czech literature, especially the topic of censorship.

I’d like to start with a biography of your life and your career as an academic.

See more here.

Author: Danny Bate

Photo: Ruth Fraňková, Radio Prague International

For the first time, a work by the famous British street artist Banksy, known for his provocative and socially charged work, is heading to a Czech auction house. His piece, entitled Gold Flag, will be up for bid with a starting price of one million crowns, making it a notable event for art collectors in the country.

The auction of Banksy’s print on paper, called Gold Flag, is held by Art Capital auction house and is set to take place on November 10 at the Mánes Gallery in central Prague.

See more here.

Author: Ruth Fraňková

Photo: René Volfík, iROZHLAS.cz

At the opening of an exhibition marking 20 years since the abolition of compulsory military service in the Czech lands, Chief of the General Staff Karel Řehka admitted that the military is struggling to meet its recruitment goals. He said radical action is needed to be taken since the army was becoming uncompetitive on the labour market.

Recruitment to the armed forces is not going as well as it should, this year’s numbers are not good and the overall trend is not good, Chief of the General Staff Karel Řehka told reporters in an unusually frank statement this week.

See more here.

Author: Daniela Lazarová

Photo: René Volfík, iROZHLAS.cz

Czechia plans to get involved in Rolls-Royce’s small modular reactor program. The investment should be significant and the decision about it will be made in several weeks.

Czechia now has two large nuclear power stations: Temelín in South Bohemia and Dukovany in the Vysočina Region.

See more here.

Author: Vít Pohanka

Photo: Hana Slavická, Radio Prague International

Internationally renowned for its heritage and beauty, Prague is a jewel of a city that attracts millions of visitors every year. Check out its sights in our photo gallery.

See more here.

Author: Danny Bate

Photo: Archeological Center in Olomouc

Archaeologists from the Olomouc Archaeological Centre have announced a unique discovery. While conducting a rescue excavation along the future route of the D35 motorway, they unearthed the largest Early Bronze Age burial site of the so-called Nitra culture unearthed to date in Central Moravia.

The discovery was made during rescue research along the future D35 motorway route between Křelov and Neředín, north of Olomouc.

See more here.

Author: Ruth Fraňková

Photo: Tomáš Mařas, Czech Radio

Scientists at the Technical University of Liberec have developed a special bag that can keep bread and rolls fresh for up to nine days. The innovation was created in collaboration with a sheltered workshop.

The so-called “fresh bag” extends the freshness of baked goods for several days thanks to a special nanomembrane, developed by scientists through a process of trial and error.

See more here.

Author: Jakub Ferenčík

Photo: Dynamo Pardubice

Pardubice hockey players are expected to have a new home within less than three years. The new multifunctional arena being built is expected to be the largest in the world.

At the beginning of October, Club’s majority owner, Petr Dědek, presented his project to the city councilors.

See more here.

Author: Jakub Ferenčík

Photo: Zdeněk Bek, DPP

The Prague Public Transport Company (DPP) on Sunday set a restored 1970s Škoda bus off on its inaugural journey around the northwest of Prague. Starting and ending in Strahov, the K line is a special route reserved for historical vehicles that operates on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays.

Compared with the modern, cuboid buses that DPP operates around Prague daily, a Škoda 706 RTO MTZ bus is a distinctive sight.

See more here.

Author: Danny Bate

51-year-old Pavel Drtil, an amateur darts player from Trutnov, last week amazed spectators by knocking out elite players and advancing to the final sixteen on Sunday. He defeated Englishman Joe Cullen (ranked eighteenth in the world) and Josh Rock from Northern Ireland (ranked seventeenth) to reach the third round of the Czech Darts Open.

The atmosphere was electric at the PVO Expo in Prague’s Letňany district on Sunday, as Czech darts fans cheered for the home player, Pavel Drtil.

See more here.

Author: Danny Bate

Photo: Radek Petrášek, ČTK

130 years have passed since the opening of the railway line between Smržovka and Tanvald, which boasts the most beautiful railway viaduct in the republic. As part of the celebrations, a bust of T.G. Masaryk was unveiled in Smržovka, although the steam train rides were the biggest attraction.

See more here.

Author: Danny Bate

Photo: Zdeněk Truhlář, Czech Radio

The newly-restored Villa Arnold in the Brno district of Černá Pole offers visitors a unique blend of architecture, history and art. In the close vicinity of the world-famous Tugendhat and Löw-Beer villas, the Villa Arnold by architect Josef Arnold from 1862 has been beautifully restored thanks to the Brno City Museum.

The history of Villa Arnold dates back to 1862, when architect Josef Arnold and his wife Katharina bought a narrow, long plot of land in Brno’s Černé Pole district.

See more here.

Author: Daniela Lazarová

Photo: Irena Šarounová, Czech Radio

The Opening of the Wells is one of Bohuslav Martinů’s most famous compositions, inspired by his native region, the Moravian Highlands. Not many people know that they can visit the wells that inspired this piece and that the place is linked to Martinů’s romance with his pupil, and later a composer in her own right, Vítězslava Kaprálová.

In the heart of the Moravian Highlands at an altitude of 733 metres there is a village called Tři Studně (Three Wells).

See more here.

Author: Daniela Lazarová

Photo: Archive of Audrey Knoth

When Audrey Knoth was growing up, there was a great deal that the family did not talk about. There seemed to be huge gaps in their past, and she always worried that this silence might have something to do with her. Only in the last couple of years have Audrey and her brother come to understand why their Czech mother and grandparents came to the United States at the beginning of World War Two. She tells the story of their escape, the reasons behind it and how that discovery has changed her life.

“My name is Audrey Knoth.

See more here.

Author: David Vaughan

Photo: Správa železnic

The journey to Prague’s Václav Havel Airport by public transport is for many an ordeal, involving changes between different metro lines and buses. However, the current plans presented by the Ministry of Transport will simplify and speed up the process, with trains to the airport running from Masaryk Station every ten minutes.

From 2030, there will be direct trains to Prague Airport that will stop at nine stations, travelling on a route that leads through the airport and onwards to the city of Kladno.

See more here.

Author: Danny Bate

Photo: Danny Bate, Radio Prague International

With three floors and hundreds of exhibits, Identita is a new absorbing and eye-catching exhibition at Museum Kampa – and it is only one part of the overall project. Identita is in fact a multi-genre experience, which also comprises a series on Czech Television’s iVysílání service, a feature-length documentary, and a book that accompanies the exhibition.

“Is graphic design an art or a design?” “Does graphic design have its icons and legends?” “How do you recognise good graphic design?” These are the kind of questions that the new Identita exhibition at Museum Kampa seeks to answer.

See more here.

Author: Danny Bate

Photo: Škoda Auto

Skoda Auto has developed a new small SUV for the Indian market. After Kushaq and Slavia, Kylaq is Skoda’s third locally developed and manufactured model in India.

Skoda has scheduled the world premiere of its new model for November 6.

See more here.

Author: Daniela Lazarová

On the occasion of the National Day of the Republic of Korea,

H.E. Mr. Youngki  Hong Ambassador of the Republic of Korea

and Mrs. Youngki Hong hosted a reception at the beautiful Zofin Palace.

Mr.Roman Bělor, Chair of the Interparliamentary Friendship Group Czechia-Korea, Chamber of Deputies, Parliament of the Czech Republic, and Prof. Eva Zažímalová, President of the Czech Academy of Sciences were the honored speakers.

Watch the video with the speech of the H.E. Mr. Youngki  Hong Ambassador of the Republic of Korea and of Mr.Roman Bělor, Chair of the Interparliamentary Friendship Group Czechia-Korea, Chamber of Deputies, Parliament of the Czech Republic, and Prof. Eva Zažímalová, President of the Czech Academy of Sciences.

A rich culture program was a part of the event.

Happy National Day, Korea

The Ambassador of the Republic of North Macedonia H.E. Mr. Emil Krsteski, and Mrs. Ljiljana Jovanovski Asenov, President of the Czech Macedonian Association of Commerce in the CR host a special event to promote  Business and Trade Cooperation Opportunities between North Macedonia, Czech Republic, and Western Balkan Region, and to mark the 30th Anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Republic of North Macedonia and the Czech Republic.

The event starts with a greeting from H.E. Mr. Emil Krsteski, the Ambassador of the Republic of North Macedonia, and Mr. Martin Pospisil from Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Czech Republic.

Then Mrs. Ljiljana Jovanovski Asenov, President of the Czech Macedonian Association of Commerce in the CR presented a very interesting presentation about N. Macedonia and the investment opportunities.

The guests were treated with very good wine and food from the Balkans, followed by a FASHION SHOW & ART at Slovanský dům Garden.

Photo :  Nešo Matić

The gates of the World Expo, which will take place next year in Osaka, Japan, will open in exactly half a year, on April 13, 2025. EXPO 2025 will last for six months, and organizers expect up to 30 million people to visit it. One of the iconic buildings to which not only the organizers but also the Japanese and other foreign media are proudly invited, is the Czech National Pavilion. It officially began to be built in mid-May, and the assembly of the wooden structure has been underway since around mid-September. It now gets clear outlines and shapes. We bring you an exclusive photo gallery and comment on the construction progress.

“Construction of the Czech national pavilion at EXPO 2025 formally began in mid-May, a month after we signed the contract with the Japanese construction company Daisue. In May, we also held a jichinsai ceremony on the Czech land on Yumeshima Island in Osaka Bay, where the upcoming EXPO will be held. Subsequently, preparatory work took place and the Japanese builders worked on the foundations of the Czech National Pavilion, which are crucial for the construction – they must be sufficient support for possible earthquakes and typhoons,” says Ondřej Soška, ​​general commissioner of the Czech participation in EXPO 2025, adding: “17. In September, the wooden construction started to be realized. To date, the assembly of the entire basement is complete, the builders completed the installation of the inner core of the building and the floor in the auditorium over the weekend. After less than a month of work on installing the wooden structure, about 40 percent of the rough construction is complete.”

The assembly is carried out by a joint team of the main contractor Daisue Construction and the Czech subcontractor A2 Timber. In Japan, this is a rather unconventional collaboration, as the local market is quite protectionist and usually does not allow foreigners into such projects. Despite significant differences in the way work is organized, the implementation of the national pavilion is nevertheless moving forward quickly. The Japanese can see from the course of cooperation so far that the Czechs are professional and are pleasantly surprised by the speed and efficiency of the construction process.

CLT construction manager Martin Povala from the A2Timber team praises the cooperation with Japanese colleagues: “The Czech national pavilion is not only a good design but also an innovative and technically sophisticated project. When installing in an environment where earthquakes and typhoons are common, the absolute precision of our work is key. The Japanese understand this better than anyone else, and they give us all the cooperation in routine organizational matters, even when something needs to be done quickly.”

A team of approximately 10 people, six Czechs, and four Japanese, operates on the construction site every day. Work starts at six in the morning and ends between five and six in the afternoon. They work six days a week, one day off. The work is very demanding, the temperatures are still high in Japan, but all work is carried out according to the agreed schedule. The construction manager must also plan the work according to the weather. Due to the size of the panels, it cannot be installed when it is raining a lot or the wind is blowing. For work planning, they also use the Czech application Windy, which is very popular in Japan. The progress of the construction is also personally supervised by General Commissioner Soška, ​​who is also on-site to be able to resolve any misunderstandings or problems that may arise operatively.

The Czech National Pavilion will be the first wooden building of its kind without a steel structure in Japan. It is produced mainly from Czech materials – wood from Czech forests and Czech art glass. The Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of the Environment, and the Ministry of Defense participate in the supply of wood, specifically the state enterprise Forests of the Czech Republic, Military Forests and Farms of the Czech Republic, and the Krkonoše National Park. The cooperation at the national pavilion was announced by Minister Marek Výborný, Petr Hladík, and Jana Černochová at a press conference at the Breadwinner’s Land in České Budějovice this August.

The first wooden-framed containers left for Japan on July 1, 2024, and another forty or so containers left during the summer, with the last containers loaded in early September. All wood is transported to Japan by ship. From the Czech Republic, the containers always headed to the largest German port in Hamburg, from where they sailed for about 8-10 weeks to Osaka, Japan.

You can read more about the architecture: https://www.czechleaders.com/insights/a-glass-spiral-in-osaka-the-czech-national-pavilion-for-expo-2025-will-be-a-marvel

About the Czech pavilion at EXPO 2025

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

About Czech participation in EXPO 2025

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

Become a partner of the Czech participation at EXPO 2025:

Become a partner of the Czech participation at EXPO 2025

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

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

The Speaker of the House discussed Czech-Armenian inter-parliamentary and business cooperation with her Armenian counterpart in Prague.

The Speaker of the Armenian National Assembly Alen Simonyan was at the head of a Parliamentary delegation and accompanied by H.E. Mr. Ashot Hovakimian, the Ambassador of Armenia to the Czech Republic.

The main topics of the joint meeting were Czech support for Armenia’s pro-European orientation, continued cooperation between the two legislatures, and opportunities for a more intensive Czech-Armenian trade exchange.

“We have long-term cooperation with Armenia and support its pro-European orientation not only within the framework of the Eastern Partnership but also, for example, with bilateral projects to strengthen the role of civil society. I am pleased that the parliamentary contacts between our countries are deepening and I am convinced that this positive trend will continue,” said the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies, Markéta Pekarová Adamová.

Last September, a delegation of the House Committee on the Environment visited Armenia. The Speaker made an official visit to Yerevan at the beginning of this year. On the way, she was accompanied by a business delegation focused mainly on the dynamically developing information technology sector.

“In addition to IT, promising areas of Czech-Armenian business cooperation are, for example, healthcare, agriculture, water and waste management. Our country is also well known for its energy tradition. In addition to the modernization of nuclear power plants, we can also provide highly qualified solutions in the field of renewable resources and hydropower,” added the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Markéta Pekarová Adamová.

New opportunities and impulses for further potential cooperation of Czech companies are also offered in Armenia in the field of construction and modernization of transport infrastructure, supply of mining technologies, or brewing.

Two September cubs of South American squirrel monkeys can be found by visitors in the Water World and Monkey Islands exhibition complex in the lower part of the Prague Zoo. Most of the time, the little curlews cling tightly to the backs of their caring mothers. Their gender is still unknown. Photo by Petr Hamerník, Prague Zoo

Cubs of energetic squirrel squirrels, graceful Burmese deer, or all three bred species of flamingos. Terezian summer has arrived at the Prague Zoo and the autumn season of births and hatching. The sun’s rays and the captivating shades of the trees beckon to visit the zoo in October – without queues and crowds. In addition, many animals are more active in current temperatures than in summer. The cable car remains in operation every day until the end of the year.

Three young Burmese deer were born in October. These are “replacement cubs” that often rest lying down and mothers come to nurse them regularly. As a tropical species, Burmese deer have estrus in January and February and calving season during the central European autumn. The Prague Zoo is the only one in the Czech Republic that keeps these ungulates, and the last of the three additions is already the 78th cub born here. Photo by Petr Hamerník, Prague Zoo

“Our cub year continues into the fall season. In addition to the already well-known ones such as the two small gorillas Mobi and Gaia, the orangutan Harapan, or the female giraffe Johanka, people can come and see completely new additions that are born in the exhibits across the garden,” says the director of the Prague Zoo, Miroslav Bobek.

In the Water Worlds and Monkey Islands exhibition complex, people can see the young of all three bred species of flamingos. American Chilean and Cuban flamingos (pictured) can be found near the capybara tapirs, while old-world pink flamingos can be found next to the island of silver gibbons. Photo by Petr Hamerník, Prague Zoo

The just-launched mobile application of the Prague Zoo also encourages you to visit, which offers tickets at a favorable price, makes it easier to move around the premises, and contains several other functions, including medallions of farmed animals or notifications about their feeding.

The young flamingos are gray and group together in some kind of nurseries. They grow into adults in about four to five months. Their transformation can now be watched with your own eyes at the Prague Zoo. Photo by Petr Hamerník, Prague Zoo

The Prague Zoo complex is open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. until the end of October. The popular cable car connecting the lower and upper part of the complex remains exceptionally open this year not only on weekends but also on weekdays, until the end of the calendar year.

Many animals are more active at current temperatures than in the heat. The image shows a female red kangaroo examining fallen leaves. Photo by Petr Hamerník, Prague Zoo

The Speaker of the House discussed global security issues and business opportunities for Czech companies in the Philippines

The Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies, Markéta Pekarová Adamová, visited the Philippines on her way through Southeast Asia. In Manila, she discussed Czech-Philippine political, economic, and security cooperation with Philippine Chief Minister Lucas Bersamino and Senate President Francis Escudero and other high-ranking representatives of the local legislative and executive powers. In the capital and subsequently in the economically key province of Cebu, business forums organized by the Chamber of Commerce to support Czech companies in their search for new business opportunities began.

“Our countries share a deep conviction about the need for an international order based on the observance of fair rules. At the same time, we are also connected by the direct historical experience of living in the vicinity of a strong aggressor with undisguised expansionist ambitions – in our case it is Russia, in the case of the Philippines it is China. And it is Russia and China that are not only obvious violators of international law, but act in a coordinated manner in this regard. Strengthening mutual Czech-Philippine relations and closer cooperation with other trusted democratic partners in the Indo-Pacific are therefore absolutely essential for preserving security and prosperity in the entire region,” said the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies, Markéta Pekarová Adamová.

The business mission of the Chamber of Commerce of the Czech Republic accompanies the parliamentary delegation on its way to Asia. The latter, in cooperation with the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Republic of the Philippines, organized sector-focused business forums both in the populous Philippine metropolis and in the economically dynamically developing province of Cebu, which is home to a number of successful companies.

“Many promising Czech companies offering solutions in IT, cyber security, logistics, or air transport can apply in the Philippines. Our country, on the other hand, is well known for its advanced manufacturing industry, predictable legal environment, demand for skilled labor, and openness to more intensive cooperation. The result of this is a synergy from which the citizens of both our countries will benefit,” added the speaker of the House of Representatives, Markéta Pekarová Adamová.

Photo: Czech Television

After years of problems fighting bark beetle infestation, scientists from the University of South Bohemia and the Biological Centre of the Academy of Sciences in České Budějovice have come up with a major breakthrough. They have developed a probe that detects infested trees accurately and at an early stage.

Protecting Czechia’s deep pine forests from bark beetle has not been easy and there have been a number of calamities in recent decades.

See more here.

Author: Daniela Lazarová

The Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies, Markéta Pekarová Adamová, received the state award for services to the Republic of Austria. She received it from her Austrian counterpart, Wolfgang Sobotka, for her contribution to Czech-Austrian relations in the field of parliamentary diplomacy. The Grand Honorary Medal in gold with a star for services to the Republic of Austria

The Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies, thus included herself among personalities such as former UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, President of the European Parliament Roberta Metsola or former California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.

“I value this award very much and perceive it as a broader recognition of excellent Czech-Austrian inter-parliamentary relations. However, it would not be possible to successfully develop and deepen these without a great partner, who for the past three years Mr. Sobotka has been for me. And on the occasion of his last official visit to us, I would like to thank him for all the work he has done to build the imaginary bridges that connect our countries,” said the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies, Markéta Pekarová Adamová.

The honor is the fourth highest class of its kind. Since 1952, it has been awarded by the Austrian Federal President at the proposal of the relevant member of the government or the chairman of one of the two parliamentary chambers.

“It clearly shows that active parliamentary diplomacy is gaining more and more importance in today’s world, and efforts for more intensive cross-border cooperation contribute not only to the prosperity of the citizens of both our countries, but also to the cohesion of the whole of Central Europe,” added the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Markéta Pekarová Adamová.

Photo: Jonáš Zbořil, Czech Radio

This weekend, Prague’s Cemetery and Funeral Services are opening their doors to the public for the first time, offering a unique opportunity to explore the city’s cemeteries and funeral facilities. The event will feature guided tours, workshops hosted by gravediggers and undertakers, and a chance to learn more about the often-overlooked world of funeral services. I discussed the details with the organization’s communication manager, Kateřina Pavlitová:

“The purpose of organizing this event was really to let the residents of Prague know that we exist.

See more here.

Author: Ruth Fraňková

Photo: Danny Bate, Radio Prague International

The 26-tonne clock tower structure has been restored on top of the Industrial Palace, the centre piece of the Výstaviště area in Bubeneč. Following a fire in 2008, the costs of the repair of the palace, which began in 2022 and will continue until 2026, are estimated to exceed three billion crowns.

The Industrial Palace was built in 1891, and was designed by the Czech architect Münzberger.

See more here.

Author: Danny Bate

Photo: Danny Bate, Radio Prague International

A new machine will now present a selection of Czech culture to waiting passengers at Václav Havel Airport. Thanks to the organisation “Pianos on the Street” and the cultural activist Ondřej Kobza, the new ‘poetry jukebox’ freely offers the best of Czech history, legends, poetry, drama and music in a cosy corner of Terminal 2. Danny Bate went along to its unveiling.

Amidst planes taking off and landing, and travellers hurrying to their gates, a peaceful alcove in Prague Airport’s Terminal 2 offers visitors an oasis of calm and Czech culture.

See more here.

Author: Danny Bate

Photo: Ruth Fraňková, Radio Prague International

Most visitors to Prague are drawn to its iconic landmarks—Charles Bridge, Prague Castle, the Astronomical Clock—but there’s another side to the city that often goes unnoticed, hidden beyond the main squares and bustling streets. Woven through Prague’s streets is a network of passages and arcades, which allow you to take shortcuts and avoid the crowds. We’ll explore at least some of them with architect Štěpán Beneš, one of the founders of the association Mapamátky, which aims to popularize Prague’s architecture.

Here is a list of passages we visit:.

See more here.

Author: Ruth Fraňková

Photo: Petra Štrymplová, Czech Radio

The Baroque cemetery chapel of the Holy Family in Odry, Moravia, was built in 1718-1719. Over the centuries it underwent a number of insensitive reconstructions that hid many aspects of its former beauty. However the most recent reconstruction in 2015 yielded a number of unexpected discoveries.

Under layers of bricks and plaster experts discovered a wooden timbered structure and a painted ceiling from the early Baroque period, and fragments of wall paintings in the nave of the chapel.

See more here.

Author: Daniela Lazarová

Source: Festival Kino Brasil

A rich programme of film, food, dance and music awaits visitors to this year’s Kino Brasil film festival, which begins on October 15th. Barbora Kovářová, one of the team behind the festival, spoke to Danny Bate, about what is included in the programme, and what the team is looking to achieve with the festival.

Could you tell me, what are the goals of the Kino Brasil film festival?.

See more here.

Author: Danny Bate

Gino Schilders moved to Czechia from the Netherlands twenty-seven years ago, and has since been a prominent figure in the world of Czech field hockey. As president of the Czech Field Hockey Federation and trainer for Slavia, he shared his story and impressions of Czech sports with us.

See more here.

Illustration photo: Lenka Žižková, Radio Prague International

Following years of complaints from the public, the Prague authorities have banned the popular “pub crawls” in which organized groups of tourists go from pub to pub in the night hours. The measure is part of a broader effort to make the city “livable” for its inhabitants.

Noise pollution, disturbance of the peace, garbage strewn in the streets, and security concerns –those are the main reasons why Prague districts have fought against pub crawls for years and why Prague councilors finally decided to put an end to the practice.

See more here.

Author: Daniela Lazarová

Photo: Kristina Roháčková, iROZHLAS.cz

Czech filmmakers Viktor Horák and Pavel Sýkora won the Student Oscar for their short drama Krajan (Compatriot).

Young Czech filmmakers Viktor Horák and Pavel Sýkora received a Student Oscar tonight in London for their short drama “Krajan” (Compatriot).

See more here.

Author: Vít Pohanka

Photo: Václav Jabůrek, Czech Radio

In the German state of Brandenburg, a mighty circular fortress, a replica of a Slavic castle from the ninth or tenth century, has been acquired by a Czech owner. Care of the historical attraction has passed into the hands of David Chmelík, who emigrated from Czechoslovakia in the 1990s.

The historical region of Lusatia, part of Germany and Poland, has for centuries been a land with Slavic-speaking inhabitants.

See more here.

Author: Danny Bate

Photo: Michal Krumphanzl, ČTK

Edith Pargeter was a writer who achieved fame in Britain for her historical murder mysteries. What is less well known is her career as a (self-taught) translator and promoter of Czech literature.

October 14th marks twenty-nine years since the death of Edith Mary Pargeter, the popular and prolific English novelist, who, under the pen-name of Ellis Peters, created the character of the crime-solving monk Brother Cadfael.

See more here.

Author: Danny Bate

Photo: Libor Zavoral, ČTK

Twenty-five years ago, the name Matiční Street in Ústí nad Labem—a 100-meter-long path between family row houses and three apartment buildings where socially disadvantaged Romani people lived—went viral. The fence planned by the town hall was seen as a symbol of racism and the segregation of the Czech Roma population.

The issue of Matiční Street grew throughout the 1990s in Ústí nad Labem.

See more here.

Author: Jakub Ferenčík

Photo: Moravské zemské muzeum

Eighty years ago, three hugely talented Jewish composers Pavel Haas, Hans Krása and Viktor Ullmann were gassed in Auschwitz. Their music, created during one of the most tragic periods of European history, lives to this day.

Composer, conductor, pianist, writer and music critic Viktor Ullmann was one of the most outstanding and complex artistic personalities of Czech-German cultural life in the years of the First Republic.

See more here.

Source: Jakub Cigler Architekti, CAMP

Prague’s Wenceslas Square is currently undergoing a major renovation, which includes the return of trams to its upper part. An exhibition is now underway at the bottom section of the square, which presents the upcoming changes to the public.

Wenceslas Square in the very centre of Prague currently looks a bit like a building site.

See more here.

Author: Ruth Fraňková

Photo: Studio hrdinů

The new director of the Slovak National Theatre (SND), Zuzana Ťapáková, has canceled the performance Moonstone by Prague’s Studio of Heroes, which was scheduled to be part of the Drama Queer festival. The festival’s organizer called the decision discriminatory and accused her of censorship. Studio of Heroes announced on Facebook that they plan to address the situation with a talk at the end of October.

Drama Queer is a theatre festival focused on LGBT+ issues, running from 17 to 28 October.

See more here.

Author: Jakub Ferenčík

On the occasion of the 79^th anniversary of the Independence of the Republic of Indonesia, the Ambassador of the Republic of Indonesia  H.E. Ms. Kenssy Dwi EKANINGSIH hosted a reception at the Hilton Hotel, Prague.

Mr. David Müller the Director General at the Section of European Union and Foreign Trade of the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Czech Republic, and Mr. Viktor Vojtko Member of the Chamber of Deputies of the Czech Republic were the honored guests.

Watch the video with the speech of the Ambassador H.E. Ms. Kenssy Dwi EKANINGSIH  and of Mr. David Müller the Director General at the Section of European Union and Foreign Trade of the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Czech Republic, and Mr. Viktor Vojtko Member of the Chamber of Deputies of the Czech Republic.

A rich culture program was a part of the event.

Happy Independence Day, Indonesia

On the occasion of Spain National Day, The Ambassador of Spain, H.E. Mrs. María Pérez Sánchez-Laulhé hosted a reception at  Kaiserstein Palace, Prague.

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

Watch the video with the speech of the Ambassador of Spain, H.E. Mrs. María Pérez Sánchez-Laulhé, and of Mr. Eduard Hulicius – the deputy minister of foreign affairs of the Czech Republic.

Viva Espana Viva República Checa

The Ambassador of the Argentine Republic H.E. Mr. Claudio Javier Rozencwaig is very honored to be able to host, together with the Lucerna Palace, the 13th edition of the Argentine Film Week, a cultural event that has already become an obvious symbol of the affinity between Argentine and Czech culture.

A cultural tradition that brings us closer together and reminds us that we are not alone on this journey, no matter where we come from. No kilometers, countries, and oceans are enough to separate us.

The festival will take place from 10.10.- 15.10.2024 at the Beautiful Lucerna Cinema – Vodičkova 36, Praha 1.

The opening evening was attended by many Ambassadors and diplomats and the public who love the Argentine movies.

The Ambassador of the Argentine Republic H.E. Mr. Claudio Javier Rozencwaig and the Edvard Kožušník Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade of the Czech Republic.

The opening movie was The Extortion  ( 2023 ) – Alejandro is an experienced airline pilot. He loves his profession, but he hides a secret: a medical condition that, if discovered, would lead to his immediate retirement. The Intelligence Service finds out and they start blackmailing him by demanding that, without asking questions, he transport some mysterious suitcases on the Buenos Aires-Madrid route. Intrigued by the enigmatic cargo he is carrying, Alejandro is soon plunged into a universe of intrigue and corruption that will put him and those he loves in danger. His very life is threatened, and he has to fight to survive.

In addition to sucking mother’s milk, Gaia also sucks solid food, especially vegetables, which fall from mother Kijiva’s mouth while eating. Photo by Tereza Mrhálková, Prague Zoo

On Saturday, October 12, six months will pass since the birth of the gorilla Gaia at the Prague Zoo. The daughter of the female Kijivu and goddaughter of the famous primatologist Jane Goodall is thriving and growing literally before the eyes of visitors. She is tasting solid food, exploring the indoor and outdoor areas of the Dja Reserve and increasingly playing with his nine-month-old sister, Mobi. In addition, the first born quickly catches up – this is probably due to Gaia’s more benevolent upbringing and Mobi herself, who sets an example for her.

“For the first time in the history of the Prague Zoo, we have the opportunity to watch two baby gorillas at the same time, which brings us and the visitors a whole range of remarkable stimuli. For example, the younger Gaia is extremely mature for her age. It is thanks to her mother Kijiva, who has already raised four offspring. Thanks to this, she approaches upbringing with experience and calmness, and Gaie thus gives more freedom than first-born Duni to her daughter Mobi, whom Duni, on the other hand, holds quite briefly,” says chief primate breeder Martin Vojáček.

Kijiva’s mother-of-five’s upbringing is relatively benevolent. Visitors can increasingly see little Gaia during exploratory tours of the pavilion. The white spot on the bottom, which is clearly visible in the picture, is a typical sign of baby gorillas. Photo by Oliver Le Que, Prague Zoo

However, freer supervision of the cub’s behavior is not the only reason why Gaia is almost as mature as Mobi, who is three and a half months older. “Gaia has a pattern in Mobi. While Mobi has had to figure out how the world around her works – how to stand up, that the ropes swing, that she can swing on them, and so on – Gaia takes it all away from Mobi. The development of Gaia’s motor skills is therefore very fast,” explains Vojáček.

However, not everything can compete with Gaia Mobi. “Gaia already swallows solid food just like Mobi, but she has to wait for harder bites. Gaia has few teeth yet, about eight to ten. You simply cannot speed up some things,” adds Vojáček.

Visitors can find a family of lowland gorillas in the Dja Reserve pavilion in the upper part of the Prague Zoo. The best time to observe them is when they are feeding around 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.

On October 8, 2024 – The Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies, Markéta Pekarová Adamová, made an official visit to Singapore. With her counterpart Seah Kian Peng and President Tharman Shanmugaratnam, she discussed closer bilateral cooperation and opportunities for more intensive economic exchange. The parliamentary delegation is also accompanied by a business mission with the aim of penetrating the promising Singaporean markets and deepening business relations within the Southeast Asian region as well.

The Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies of the Parliament of the Czech Republic, Markéta Pekarová Adamová, began her journey through Southeast Asia with an official visit to Singapore – the gateway to Southeast Asia for our businesses. The parliamentary delegation, which also consists of the chairman of the parliamentary security committee, Pavel Žáček, the deputy chairman of the defense committee, Josef Flek, and the chairman of the energy subcommittee, Róbert Teleky, discussed closer interparliamentary cooperation with the chairman of the Singapore legislature, Seah Kian Peng. They also discussed mutual relations between the two countries at a meeting with President Tharman Shanmugaratnam.

“Czech-Singapore relations have been at a very high level for a long time. Our cooperation is developing in many areas – from advanced technologies, through education, and cyber security, to environmental protection and, recently, artificial intelligence. Our visit is therefore another impetus for even more intensive cooperation and at the same time an invitation for potential Singaporean investors to visit us,” said the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies, Markéta Pekarová Adamová.

The parliamentary delegation is also accompanied by a business mission of the Czech Chamber of Commerce specifically focused on the sectors of information technology, cyber security, solutions for smart cities, logistics, and aviation.

“Last year alone, the amount of our mutual trade reached a total amount exceeding 20 billion crowns. We will probably increase this amount even more this year. Singapore is, therefore, our important business partner, representing not only a number of lucrative opportunities for our export-oriented companies and entrepreneurs but also a gateway to perspective markets throughout Southeast Asia,” added the Speaker of the Chamber, Markéta Pekarová Adamová.

From Singapore, the delegation moved to the Philippines, where they will discuss inter-parliamentary and economic cooperation with the country’s high political representatives and business leaders.

On October 8, President Petr Pavel and Mrs. Eva Pavlová received 40 scholarship recipients of the Education Fund, which is celebrating 30 years since its foundation this year, at Prague Castle.

The official reception of the students of the scholarship program of the Committee of Good Will – Olga Havelová Foundation took place in the Social Hall. Siblings Antonín, Anežka, Klára and František Koneční, scholarship recipients of the program, played Prelude from Marc-Antoine Charpentier’s Te Deum to the presidential couple.

In his greeting, President Petr Pavel highlighted education as a joint priority of the Pavlov couple and described it as the best investment that can be made. According to him, programs like the Education Fund can help people who do not have the same conditions to make such an investment due to health, social or even geographical disadvantage. ” Just the absence of schools in remote regions can be a form of disadvantage ,” the president explained. He then thanked the scholarship holders for their work and wished them success in the coming years. 

Petr Pavel and Eva Pavlova were greeted by Vojtěch Sedláček, chairman of its board of directors, and Monika Granja, director, on behalf of the Committee of Good Will – Olga Havel Foundation. Barbora Antonovičová, Supreme Court lawyer and UN Young Delegate in 2018/2019, spoke on behalf of all current and former students supported by the program. According to her, the financial support enabled and simplified the education of the scholarship recipients at secondary or university level, but also helped them in their personal development. ” We perceive quality education as a very important basis for subsequently obtaining appropriate employment, through which we can then further contribute to the development of society and thus return that support, ” said the young woman in her speech.

After presenting gifts to the Pavlov couple – flowers and calendars for the year 2025 with illustrations by Olga Havlova from Adély Marie Jirků – all the participants of the meeting sang the song One day we will continue to the president of the republic and the first lady, accompanied by the Konečný siblings. 

The informal part of the meeting of the presidential couple with students, as well as with partners and supporters of the Education Fund, took place in the Music Hall without the participation of the media.

The exceptional program ended with a guided tour of the representative premises of Prague Castle, which are normally inaccessible to the public and are only opened to them on special occasions.

The education fund celebrates 30 years this year. Since its establishment, 1,339 students have received regular support or a one-off contribution for school fees or study aids, in a total amount of more than 42 million crowns. ČSOB is a partner of the Education Fund.

Photo By Eva Šolcová

It’s one of the most important role that represent the Czech Republic all over the world. The first Lady should invest time and efforts performing her duties in the country and with the President at his official visits around the world.

This role should be regulated with a fair salary and social insurance. The new legal regulation in the right step and should be done long time ago.

“The Office of the President of the Republic perceives the proposed legal regulations of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications as a comprehensive solution that should facilitate the effective functioning of the First Lady for the first time in history in a way that would correspond to the needs and expectations associated with this position, including the correction of the non-existent pension and health insurance for the years spent fulfilling this demanding and publicly watched tasks.

The role of the wife or husband, or the partner of the President of the Republic has not yet been anchored in the legal system of the Czech Republic, which we perceive in the twenty-first century as a situation that must inevitably be rectified.

The role of the first lady is a position that cannot actually be combined with a job or other gainful activity. Despite this fact, the wife of the President of the Republic has not yet received any compensation for fulfilling this role.

At the same time, it is expected that the wife of the President of the Republic will accompany him at official events in the Czech Republic, when receiving foreign visits, trips to the regions or in a number of other similar situations. It is expected that he will also participate in foreign trips. Last but not least, it is also expected that the wife of the President of the Republic will have and will handle her own agenda, e.g. grant patronage, publicly support non-profit or other projects, handle correspondence addressed to her, or engage in her own charitable activities.

The proposed changes, however, do not only regulate compensations, which are supposed to ensure the functioning of the apparatus of the wife of the president of the republic during the performance of the role of the first lady.

Legal regulations thus bring solutions that the Office of the President of the Republic perceives as necessary in the twenty-first century. We are therefore very happy that the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications has decided to address the situation.”

On 6 October 2024, Prague’s Hvězda Park hosted the fifth Race for the Cure, a run and walk in support of breast cancer patients organized by the Alliance of Women with Breast Cancer.

Race for the Cure® is Europe’s largest sporting event for women’s health. It helps breast cancer organizations and hospitals raise funds and awareness.

Traditionally, the RFTC is supported by the Prague diplomatic community thanks to the initiative of the Ambassador of Bosnia and Herzegovina H.E Mrs. Martina Mlinarevic . This year’s event was supported financially and by the personal presence of US Ambassador H.E Mr. Bijan Sabet, Ambassadors of Japan H.E. Mr. Kansuke NAGAOKA,, Ambassador of Slovenia H.E. Mr. Aleš BALUT, Ambassador of Slovakia H.E. Ms. Ingrid BROCKOVÁ, Ambassador of Estonia H.E. Ms. Gita KALMET, Ambassador of Romania H.E. Ms. Maria-Antoaneta BARTA, Ambassador of United Kingdom H.E. Mr. Matthew Robert FIELD, Ambassador of Kosovo H.E. Ms. Albesjana IBERHYSAJ-KAPITAJ , Ambassador of Tunisia H.E. Ms. Yosra SOUIDEN, Ambassador of Egypt H.E. Mr. Mahmoud Mostafa AFIFI, Ambassador of Spain H.E. Ms. Maria PEREZ SANCHEZ-LAULHE, Ambassador of Malaysia H.E. Ms. SUZILAH BINTI MOHD SIDEK, Ambassador of Pakistan H.E. Ms. Ayesha ALI, Ambassador of Brazil H.E. Ms. Sonia Regina GUIMARAES GOMES, Ambassador of Kingdom of Saudi Arabia H.E. Mr. Abdullah Muteb A. ALRASHEED, Ambassador of Morroco H.E. Ms. Hanane SAADI, Ambassador of Norway H.E. Mr. Victor Conrad RONNEBERG, Ambassador of Albania H.E. Mr. Ilir TEPELENA and UNICEF director Ms. Yulia OLEINIK.

Hundreds of people from the community participate in this event and support this great cause.

A total of €3,343 ( about 84,000 Kc ) was raised, which will go towards the Alliance of Women with Breast Cancer projects.

Congratulations to the winners of the 5km running categories: Women, Men, Kids and Dogs.

We hope that next year more people will participate and we can collect more donations for such an important activity.

The lowland gorilla, one of the flagship species of the Prague Zoo, will not be missing from the exhibition. Source: Garden of Lights

In the lower part of the Prague Zoo area, more and more animals and plants are gradually added. It is a Light Zoo project, which is being prepared by the company Garden of Lights. The light zoo will include lanterns of 33 species of animals for a total number of 110 individuals, as well as plants, projections on the ground, or photo points. The opening is planned for Friday, October 25, but tickets are already on sale.

A similar light installation will be the first ever in a Czech zoo; however, similar projects are common in the world. In addition to revitalizing the grounds outside the main visitor season, they also help promote “flagship species”, such as gorillas or sloths in the case of Prague Zoo. The lanterns depicting them were made especially for Prague.

A family of Madagascar kata lemurs will also light up at the exhibition. Source: Garden of Lights

There will be a separate entrance fee for the Light Zoo. From 25 to 31 October, it will be open from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., and subsequently from 1 November to 16 February on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. and on other weekdays from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. It will remain closed on Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve.

We believe that the Light Zoo will excite not only for children but for all the family!

Advance ticket sales: https://gardenoflights.com/cs/prague.

The sacred baobab tree will decorate the area near the Education Center. Source: Garden of Lights
The attached photos are illustrative and depict the exhibition held last year at the Wroclaw Zoo.

Source: Signal Festival

Signal Festival, the annual festival of pioneering lightshows across Prague, begins its four-day programme on October 10th. The festival integrates technology and creativity with the grandeur of Prague’s buildings, and it has earned an international reputation for innovation and magnificence. Martin Pošta, one of the festival’s founders, spoke to Radio Prague about what visitors can look forward to this year.

We have now had ten years of Signal Festival, starting in 2013.

See more here.

Author: Danny Bate

Photo: Lenka Žižková, Radio Prague International

The Czech Senate has passed new limits on the sale of weaker psychomodulatory substances, including kratom and hexahydrocannabinol (HHC). If signed into law by the president, the substances will only be available to buy by adults and in specific stores from December.

On Wednesday 9th of October, the Czech Senate approved an amendment to the Act on Addictive Substances, responding to concerns that certain psychomodulatory substances are freely available and being consumed by minors.

See more here.

Author: Danny Bate

Photo: Czech Television

The Regional Court in Hradec Králové has rehabilitated parish priest Josef Toufar who was arrested and tortured to death by the communist secret police in the hardline 1950s for allegedly faking a miracle.

According to attorney Lubomír Müller, who specializes in defending victims of communist oppression and who drafted the petition for rehabilitation, no one had pursued Toufar’s judicial rehabilitation since there are no living relatives.

See more here.

Author: Jakub Ferenčík

Illustrative photo: Tomáš Adamec, Czech Radio

A quarter of Czech psychiatrists are set to retire in five years. Experts are calling for more.

Within five years, one in four psychiatrists in Czechia will reach retirement age, and the country is already facing a shortage of hundreds of professionals in the field.

See more here.

Author: Vít Pohanka

Photo: René Volfík, iROZHLAS.cz

German plans to build wind turbines near the Czech border have sparked a backlash, as local communities claim they were ignored and environmental concerns were overlooked.

A German investor is planning to build four massive wind turbines just across the Czech border in the Tachov region, without having consulted the local Czech communities.

See more here.

Author: Ľubomír Smatana, Vít Pohanka

Photo: eSbírky, National Museum in Prague, CC BY 4.0 DEED

A unique songbook marking the upcoming anniversary of the Velvet Revolution has just been released in Czechia. Initiated by the NGO Díky, že můžem or Thanks, that we can, it contains 17 tracks that capture the spirit of their time, from underground and protest songs to communist-era mainstream hits.

Muchomurky bílé, a song by the legendary underground rock musician Milan “Mejla” Hlavsa, is one of the 17 tracks included in the songbook Písničkou ke svobodě (Through a song to freedom), marking the 35th anniversary of the Velvet Revolution.

See more here.

Author: Ruth Fraňková

Photo: Czech Police

In an interview with Czech Radio, Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský, reflects on relations with Russia following the infamous Vrbětice case.

To explain the context: the Vrbětice case refers to the 2014 explosions at a Czech ammunition depot in the village of Vrbětice, which were later linked to Russian military intelligence (GRU) agents.

See more here.

Author: Vít Pohanka

Photo: X of Press Play Prague

Press Play Prague is uniting journalists, filmmakers, and audiences to highlight and celebrate the impact of storytelling in shaping our collective understanding of the world from 8-12 October 2024. Through screenings of thought-provoking films that explore key social and political issues, the event aims to spark meaningful discussions and inspire social change.

Many envisioned the internet as a tool to democratize both information and art.

See more here.

Author: Jakub Ferenčík

Photo: Petr Kubát, Czech Radio

The Bellarie Summer House, a Rococo jewel in Český Krumlov reopened to the public in October after undergoing extensive renovation. The palace boasts the best-preserved murals from the Rococo period in the whole of Czechia.

The Rococo garden mansion, the only one of its kind in the Czech Republic, has a lot to offer visitors.

See more here.

Author: Daniela Lazarová