AuthorMartin Hladík

The Embassy of the Kingdom of Thailand organized a new event celebrating the 50^thAnniversary of Diplomatic Relations between the Kingdom of Thailand and the Czech Republic

H.E. Mr. Suwat KAEWSOOK Ambassador of the Kingdom of Thailand and his spouse hosted at the historic Pisecka Brana in Prague 6 a traditional Thai Market.

The opening ceremony was honored by many Ambassadors and distinguished guests. The honored speaker was Mr. Jakub Starek – the Mayor of Prague 6.

In the culture part, there was a music performance by Nadacni fond Harmonie and a Thai traditional performance.

The guests and the public enjoyed the Thai food, and cultural activity and got information about Thai Tourism.

Watch the video with the speeches of H.E. Mr. Suwat KAEWSOOK Ambassador of the Kingdom of Thailand and, Mr. Jakub Starek – the Mayor of Prague 6.

And enjoy parts of the cultural activity

Photo: Josef Vostárek, ČTK

The Military Technical Museum Lešany near Týnec nad Sázavou traditionally organizes an exhibition of tanks for military buffs on the last weekend of the summer holidays. This year’s jubilee edition featured equipment from the collections of the Military Historical Institute in Prague. There were also models of historical military camps, information about the training of service dogs for the army and knowledge competitions.

See more here.

Photo: Kristýna Maková, Radio Prague International

Czech scientists have developed a unique “invisible stamp” that could help identify the owners of rare documents or works of art that got lost or stolen. The stamp is not detectable to the human eye and can only be deciphered by an X-ray fluorescence spectrometer.

Historical documents in archives are usually marked with a classic metal or self-inking stamp with the name of the relevant institution.

See more here.

Author: Ruth Fraňková

As a part of the ASEAN PLUS FILM FESTIVAL, H.E. Mr. Eduardo MENEZ – Ambassador of the Republic of Philippines, organized a screening at the Prague municipal library of the beautiful movie K’NA THE Dreamweaver.

Watch the Video H.E. Mr. Eduardo MENEZ explaining about the movie and the artists that create it.

After watching this very interesting and sentimental movie, I would like to visit the Philippines to see all those beautiful places.

The ASEAN Plus Film Festival starts on the 2^nd of September and will take place till the 9^thof September. The last screening will be a Myanmar movie.

Photo: Ruth Fraňková, Radio Prague International

Prague Art Week, a four-day event presenting the best of Prague’s galleries and art museums, gets underway in the capital on Friday evening. The festival’s main venue will be located at the historic Savarin Palace in the centre of the city, which will open to the public for the first time since its reconstruction started in 2021.

Over 30 art spaces around the city, including the National Gallery Kunsthalle Prague, MeetFactory and Kampa Museum, will be the backdrop to the third edition of the annual Prague Art Week, with new exhibitions and all kinds of accompanying events.

See more here.

Author: Ruth Fraňková

On Tuesday, September 10, the Good Will Run of the Olga Havel Foundation will start in the Hvězda nature reserve to help families in adverse life situations. The entire proceeds from the starting charity race, which is organized by the Goodwill Committee – Olga Havlova Foundation, will support single-parent families, families who have lost a roof over their heads, or families caring for medically disadvantaged children.

The sixth year of the charity event will offer participants children’s races, junior races, a 5 km run for women, an individual 10 km run for men and women, a 4 x 2.5 km relay, a company relay and also an embassy relay. For those who cannot run, but still want to help, there is a virtual entry fee.

The goodwill run was sponsored and will be personally attended by important personalities of Czech sports, ultra-marathoner Miloš Škorpil and javelin thrower, Olympian Irena Gillarová. Patronage was also provided by disabled athlete Heřman Volf, founder of the company Cesta za snem and winner of the Public Prize within the Olga Havel Award for 2023.

“Last year’s fifth year brought in a record 658,800 crowns, which helped 103 families in need. It has become an unwritten tradition that families at risk of losing their housing receive part of the proceeds every year. Our foundation provides them with support as part of the Roof First project. Help is also directed to parents who care for children or their loved ones with a medical disadvantage,” said Monika Granja, director of the Goodwill Committee – Olga Havlové Foundation.

The Goodwill Run will also help 25-year-old Jakub from Český Meziříčí with low-functioning autism and severe mental retardation. After emergency surgery, Kuba has withdrawn into himself and refuses to go anywhere where people are. “Because of this, we have isolated ourselves a lot, we no longer have contact with our friends, we rarely see our family,” Jakub’s mother describes the current unhappy situation. She would like to buy him an electric tricycle, with which they could get to nature together and to places where they cannot go by car. His cousin recently took him to a similar Cuba. After a long time, an activity appeared in which he shows interest and which gets him out of isolation and out among people. (You can find more information here.) Thanks to the Goodwill Run, eleven-year-old Adélka from Ostrava – Krásné Pole, who has been diagnosed with a rare form of muscular dystrophy, will receive a new, larger wheelchair, light and customized. (More information can be found here.)

The previous five editions of the run, in which over two and a half thousand young and adult competitors took part, raised the sum of 1,943,327 crowns. The selected funds served 229 families who found themselves in an unfavorable life situation.

In addition to the foundation’s stand, an accompanying program for families with children will be prepared on the forefield near Vypich in front of the Hvězda nature reserve. Participants of the event will be able to try the javelin throw with Irena Gillarová and a set of athletic equipment from USK Prague. The Spejbla and Hurvínek Theater will enrich the sports afternoon. The traveling exhibition “Finally Home” will also be on display. It follows the book Nahradka by journalist Barbora Postránecká and photographer Jana Plavec about children who could not grow up with their biological parents. Visitors to the sports afternoon will be able to take a photo with Václav and Olga Havel in the photo booth.

The Goodwill Run takes place on September 10 in the Hvězda nature reserve in Prague 6 from 6 p.m. The accompanying program starts already at 3:30 p.m. The main race will start at 6 p.m. by Jakub Stárek, mayor of Prague 6. (You can find more about the race and registration here.) The project was financially supported by the Municipal District of Prague 6 and the ČEZ Foundation. The sports afternoon will be conducted by Marek Vobr and Jiří Doležal.

Media partners: Czech Radio, Radio 1, Deník N

Partners: Prague 6, ČEZ Foundation, MCAE Systems, s.r.o., Sportega s.r.o., Dino Toys s.r.o., Mizuno, COPY GENERAL s.r.o., Volvo Cars, Lidl Czech Republic s.r.o., ARGO spol. s.r.o., Model Group Czech Republic, Spolecnost 3DDen s.r.o., Pražské vodovody a kanalizace, a.s., OSA, z.s.

Photo: Alexis Rosenzweig, Radio Prague International

The newly inaugurated Nicholas Winton Street in Prague was officially opened today by representatives of the Prague 7 municipality and other organizations. The ceremony coincides with the anniversary of the outbreak of the Second World War and the departure of the last “Winton Train” in 1939, a poignant reminder of the lives saved and those lost during the Holocaust.

Nicholas Winton Street, situated near Prague’s historic Bubny Station, honors Sir Nicholas Winton who saved 669 children before the outbreak of the Second World War.

See more here.

Author: Jakub Ferenčík, Alexis Rosenzweig

In the years 2014–2020, the Integrated Regional Operational Program (IROP) of the Ministry for Regional Development supported a total of 1,820 investment projects in regional education with 21.57 billion crowns from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). This extensive support made it possible to modernize the educational infrastructure and improve the conditions for teaching in the Czech Republic. With the beginning of the school year, MMR presents some successful educational projects supported by IROP.

“The support from IROP in the years 2014-2020 significantly contributed to schools and kindergartens responding better to the current needs of society and the labor market, and thus increased the overall level of education in the Czech Republic,” said Director of the IROP Governing Body Rostislav Mazal.

In total, 1,820 projects in education were supported from IROP in the years 2014–2020, so this is one of the areas with the highest number of supported projects from IROP. The amount of subsidy support that went to these projects reached 21.57 billion crowns from the ERDF. The average support per project was 11.85 million crowns from the ERDF. 20.69 billion crowns from the ERDF have already been reimbursed, which testifies to the high success and efficiency of the implementation of educational projects.

The innovation increased the prestige of the school and the interest of the students

Thanks to a grant of 55.4 million crowns from the ERDF, the Nuselská elementary school in Havlíčková Brod built a new science center. It is an extension of two multifunctional classrooms on the roof with 2D and 3D projection together with a spherical screen. The IROP project also supported the reconstruction of a physics classroom, a chemistry laboratory, and the reconstruction of language and information technology classrooms. Green spaces for trees and flower beds can be seen on the roof. A greenhouse with rainwater tanks and an observatory for observing the sky also grew here. The school also has a new elevator and a better internet connection.

The director of the school, Andrea Hubáčková, admits that the preparatory phase of the project was the most difficult task. During the implementation, the school faced various operational problems, but the result was worth it in the end. “We were very happy when the new equipment came to the school, as well as the functioning of the physics classroom and the laboratory,” he says, adding that after the center opened, they received positive feedback from both pupils and adults.

And as teachers’ experiences show, new possibilities have an effect on student motivation. Children work with modern devices, tablets and applications, and thanks to technology, even those who previously had no interest in natural sciences manage to get involved. “The class flew by quickly,” they often say, according to the headmistress, who is of the opinion that the pupils enjoy teaching.

The educational project connected several schools

The projects of other schools also have a wider impact. For example, at the Elementary School in Felberova Street in Svitavy, thanks to a grant of 7.9 million crowns from the ERDF, they built a polytechnic classroom with the intention of creating a stimulating environment for technical education. A new science classroom was created for an additional 2.6 million crowns from the ERDF. Svitavská school established a partnership with four other elementary schools, a secondary vocational school and a leisure center.

“They visit our school regularly and we prepare various workshops for them on various topics. Most of the offer is the option of using the production section, where the pupils take away a specific product, and then the digital technology section, where the children in our premises learn to use a number of tools that they can also use in their schools,” explains school director Jana Pazderová.

Karolinka Elementary and Kindergarten in Vsetínsk also modernized science and language classrooms, which are now also used by neighboring schools from Karlovice, Hrozenkov, Huslenek and Hovězí. Cooperation between schools is a fairly common way of sharing modern equipment. “Partner schools, in turn, willingly organize events and competitions in a modern training kitchen,” confirms Milan Minarčík, director of Karolinka Primary and Kindergarten.

“The new language laboratory makes it possible to divide language teaching better, but also to introduce afternoon classes,” praises the director, while the same applies to science subjects, which could not be divided before the acquisition of the “house”, as they call the new classrooms here. Karolinka received 11.6 million crowns from the ERDF for modernization. “Thanks to the project supported by IROP, the school building is now really fully utilized,” adds the school director.

School modernization brings results

“Since the implementation of the project, we have had several pupils who have successfully entered selective high schools with a science focus,” confides Andrea Hubáčková, the director of the Nuselská Elementary School in Havlíčkobrod. Milan Minarčík, the director of ZŠ and Kindergarten Karolinka, also confirms that the modernization of the classrooms has had a positive effect on the students’ ability to speak English. The construction of a polytechnic classroom in Svitavy made it possible to expand the range of activities in the subjects of work education and work activities as well as in the subject of computer science. “Thanks to this, the pupils participated very well in various competitions,” says the school director, Jana Pazderová, adding that there is a noticeably higher interest of pupils in secondary vocational schools, which further prepare them for the labor market.

The Integrated Regional Operational Program (IROP) of the Ministry for Regional Development has also published the complete results of the assessment of the regional distribution of investments in IROP educational infrastructure for the period 2014-2020. This study was prepared by Professor Luděk Sýkora and his team from Charles University. Among other things, the evaluation results provide visualizations that show, with the help of maps and data applications, how investments from the IROP were distributed throughout the Czech Republic. It is thus possible to view a detailed overview of projects and forms of support in individual regions, divided according to specific IROP goals, thematically focused challenges and types of education, down to the level of municipalities.

Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies Markéta Pekarová Adamová attended the official  opening of the prenatal medicine center in Lviv, western Ukraine. The center’s equipment for 10 million crowns was purchased from Czech humanitarian aid funds. The Speaker also visited the regional hospital for war veterans or the place that was the target of a bloody Russian attack not long before her arrival.

“I would like to thank everyone who, with their persistent efforts, made the entire project a reality. The maternity hospital here is not only a concrete result of the fruitful Czech-Ukrainian cooperation but also a symbol of the hope of the defending Ukrainians for a better future. It is our basic duty to strengthen this hope as actively as possible,” said the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies, Markéta Pekarová Adamová, on the spot.

The center’s equipment, consisting of delivery beds, gynecological chairs, and baby incubators in the total amount of 10 million crowns, was purchased from humanitarian aid funds coordinated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic.

“Our primary goal is to ensure greater safety here for the most vulnerable – pregnant women, newborns, and their mothers. The very fact that it is a maternity hospital in a shelter is unfortunately another proof of the barbaric nature of the Russian armed forces, which do not hesitate to direct their rockets even at children’s hospitals,” added the speaker of the House of Representatives, Markéta Pekarová Adamová.

Together with the Vice-President of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, Olena Kondratyuk, the President also visited the Lviv Regional Hospital for War Veterans in Vynnyky. The reconstruction of the operating room there was also made possible thanks to financial support from the Czech Republic. In addition, Czech companies participated in both humanitarian projects.

“I believe that our contribution will help one of the largest local hospitals to provide much-needed health care to war veterans and other vulnerable groups who have had absolutely appalling and often very traumatizing experiences behind them,” added chairwoman Markéta Pekarová Adamová.

As part of her visit, the Speaker also honored the memory of fallen Ukrainian soldiers at the Lychakovsky cemetery. She also personally visited the place, which just a few hours earlier became the target of a Russian attack, which claimed the lives of several innocent people.

The Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies Markéta Pekarová Adamová received the Speaker of the Polish Sejm Szymon Hołownia. The main topic of the joint meeting was mutual inter-parliamentary cooperation in the context of the current political and security situation in Central Europe. The two chairmen will meet once more at the Globsec International Conference.

“The cooperation between our legislatures has a long tradition, and I am sincerely pleased that we continue to do so. After all, the interparliamentary group Friend of Poland is one of the most numerous in our country,” said the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies, Markéta Pekarová Adamová, and added: “The Central European region is going through a politically very difficult period today. In addition, both our countries face extremely serious security challenges related to the ongoing brutal Russian aggression against the West. Efforts for more intensive Czech-Polish dialogue and closer partnership are therefore not only meaningful but even existentially necessary.”

The Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies will speak with her Polish counterpart this again in a panel debate as part of the prestigious international security conference Globsec. Together with other speakers, they will deal with, among other things, the consequences of the recent elections to the European Parliament, the issue of growing populism, or the question of innovative ways of solving the urgent needs of citizens.

Photo: Kateřina Šulová, ČTK

The GLOBSEC 2024 Forum, held in Prague over the weekend under the patronage of Czech President Petr Pavel, centered around the theme “Taming the Storm,” with an emphasis on central and eastern Europe’s crucial role in maintaining global stability. It attracted more than 2,300 participants from more than 80 countries including heads of state and businesses, diplomats, journalists, and more.

In her opening remarks at the Forum, President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen discussed the need for ongoing support for Ukraine, a stronger European defense strategy, and plans to appoint a dedicated Defence Commissioner.

See more here.

Author: Jakub Ferenčík

Photo: Vít Pohanka, Radio Prague International

Czechast talks with Martin Tlapa, Czechia’s Ambassador to Canada, who grew up in Prague’s blue-collar neighborhoods during Communist rule.

“I was born in Kobylisy, a district in Prague 8.

See more here.

Author: Vít Pohanka

is launching the autumn phase of this year’s key campaign “Unexpected Wellbeing”. Even in this wave, it shows foreign tourists how to exercise, relax, and rest while traveling in the Czech Republic. It emphasizes the unique possibilities that the Czech Republic offers in the framework of active tourism. The autumn phase runs from September 1 to the end of October. In November, it will be followed by a winter wave focused on winter sports and Christmas markets. The original visuals were prepared for CzechTourism by the creative agency VCCP.

A unique concept inspired by Czech nature and traditions

The communication concept of the 2024 and 2025 “Unexpected Wellbeing” campaigns of the Czech Tourism Office CzechTourism presents the Czech Republic as one big spa in the fresh air. It follows on from the success of last year’s “Unexpected Traditions” campaign, which received an award for creativity.

The autumn part of this year’s campaign is based on the spring wave. However, based on the evaluation of its intervention, the number and content of topics in individual countries were adjusted.

“Each country in which our campaigns run has its own specifics. This also corresponds to the different interest in individual topics. In some places, food and beer play a leading role, in others, architecture, spas, sports or even culture scores. Target groups also react differently. E.g. the 55+ group achieves high engagement rate values ​​on Facebook, across all countries. We therefore do not underestimate feedback and continuously optimize campaigns, for example by selecting the most successful topics and then reducing the visuals that we know have the greatest impact within the target group. Each country then has a unique composition of visuals in the campaign, which thematically matches the season,” explains František Reismüller, director of the Czech Tourism Office – CzechTourism, and adds: “We approach the funds spent with the care of a good householder, even in the case of this year’s campaign. We are based on the effect of invested money and the creditworthiness of individual countries.”

Therefore, unlike the spring part, the autumn part of the campaign will run only in selected markets in Europe. It will be shown in the UK, Germany, Poland, Slovakia, the Netherlands, Spain, Austria and Hungary.

The power of visual communication

The autumn wave of the campaign consists of the 15 most successful thematic visuals, including short videos, from the spring campaign according to a predetermined order in each country. Several of them always cover one topic of an active holiday. They show foreign clients how they can spend their vacation with us and what extraordinary experiences they can have in the Czech Republic. The just-launched wave will run on social networks Facebook, Instagram and YouTube and is complemented by a banner ad on the Teads network. In the form of original themed landing pages, they will also appear on the Visit Czechia.com portal. The total costs for the autumn phase amount to 12 million crowns.

“We want to show a holiday in the Czech Republic in a new and active light. In terms of area, our country is not one of the largest European states, and the campaign presents this very element as our competitive advantage. The accessibility and breadth of options to enjoy your stay here are countless. In a short time, you can manage a walking trip through beautiful nature, combine it with a tasting of local gastronomy or beer from a local brewery, and you can also manage a visit to the castle that stands on the hill. And that is the main idea of ​​our “Unexpected” campaign, which presents non-traditional experiences of an active vacation with a vocabulary associated with wellness and spas,” adds Jana Štumpová Konicarová, director of the Department of Marketing and Foreign Representations of CzechTourism.

 Selected topics for individual regions:

• Cycle paths (cultural, river and long-distance routes)
• MTB (trails, technical riding, bikepacking)
• Hiking
• Wellness centers
• Medical spa
• Via ferratas and sandstone climbing
• Golf

A campaign that surprises and inspires

Across all the campaigns implemented by CzechTourism, the emphasis on the uniqueness of the Czech Republic is intertwined. This is, for example, the availability of holiday activities. Both from the point of view of geography (everything is close by and there is no need to drive far) and difficulty (the kindness of our landscape allows sports activities even for those who are not experts and top athletes). Holidays with us are in a relaxed rhythm. For example, hiking is for everyone (there is no need to climb steep hills and mountains like in the Alps, but at the same time the view is really worth it). Simply put – our undulating landscape is ideal for active relaxation, regardless of age or physical fitness.

“In this year’s campaign focused on active vacations, we are using the unique accessibility that the Czech Republic offers. We communicate hiking, cycling, trails for mountain bikes, water tourism, ferratas in our Czech version and golf. We don’t forget the spa and wellness, which complement the active part of the holiday. However, this main “communication theme” is actually a kind of superstructure for continuous product communication, which reflects the cultural and historical diversity and richness of the Czech Republic (e.g. UNESCO monuments – we have the densest network of monuments inscribed on the World Heritage List in the country). And culture and history are the biggest driving force and the most common reason for foreign tourists to visit the Czech Republic. As well as the already mentioned spas, but also congress tourism, which is on the rise here,” explains František Reismüller.

Budgeting and continuation of the campaign

The total annual budget of the “Unexpected Wellbeing” campaign is 34 million crowns. The autumn phase, which has just started, will be followed by another, focused on winter activities. The theme is linked to the year-round theme of an active holiday in the Czech Republic, mainly downhill and cross-country skiing. They will be complemented by winter hiking within cities and open castles. And last but not least, also trailers for Czech traditional Christmas markets.

Like the autumn wave, the winter wave will only run in selected countries. This effectively targets tourists from Germany, Poland, Slovakia, the UK, the USA, the Netherlands, Sweden and Denmark. According to a previous and thorough analysis, these travelers are the biggest fans of winter sports or visit cities in the pre-Christmas period, and the Czech Republic is well and sustainably accessible for them. The winter campaign will take place in November and December, and its costs will amount to 6.5 million crowns.

Photo: IOCB Prague

Experts from the Czech Academy of Science’s Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry have developed a new compound that could address two major health challenges of the present day: obesity and Alzheimer’s disease. I discussed the promising new compound, which is derived from one of the peptides naturally occurring in the brain, with head of the research team, Lenka Maletínská:

“We are working with peptidic hormones, which regulate food intake, and we are studying their mechanism of action and also their role in obesity, for example.

See more here.

Author: Ruth Fraňková

The royal crown, apple and scepter will be on display in the Vladislav Hall of Prague Castle from Tuesday 17 to Monday 30 September as part of the celebration of St. Wenceslas’ anniversary. This year, the exhibition with the subtitle “Mysterious power of stones” will focus specifically on the gemstones with which the jewels are decorated.

The coronation jewels will be displayed in the Vladislav Hall of the Old Royal Palace, together with a special display case with precious stones. The first visitors will see them on Tuesday, September 17. A day earlier, in the presence of seven key holders, they will be ceremoniously picked up from the Crown Chamber in the Cathedral of St. Vít, Václav and Vojtěch, transferred to the Vladislav Hall, and inspected by restorers.

The exhibition of the crown jewels will last from September 17 to 30, visitors can get to it every day from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The exception is both Thursdays, which are reserved for schools. On Thursday, September 19, visitors will not be able to see the jewels at all, on Thursday, September 26, the exhibition will be open for them from 1 p.m.

This year, the entrance will be from Hradčanské náměstí through the gate to the Southern Gardens and through the Býčí staircase to the III. courtyard and to the Old Royal Palace. Along the way, there are toilets and the possibility to buy small snacks. Before entering the hall, there is a dressing room. The exhibition is free. Due to operational reasons, prams cannot be allowed to enter the exhibition, they cannot be allowed into the Vladislav Hall and the waiting area is not barrier-free either. After the daily capacity of the exhibition is filled, the organizers will close the gate to the Southern Gardens and the queue itself, so that people do not wait unnecessarily on the given day.

Visitors in wheelchairs (when presenting a valid ZTP or ZTP/P card, accompanied by one person) can get to the exhibition directly from III. courtyard. The same goes for school groups, whose visit is subject to prior reservation via the Castle’s website.

Due to preparations for the exhibition, the Old Royal Palace will be closed from Tuesday 10 to Monday 16 September. The second closing is scheduled after the end of the exhibition, on Tuesday, October 1. The cathedral will be closed to tourists on the day the jewels are removed, i.e. Monday, September 16.

The novelty of this year’s exhibition will be holographic animation

At the end of his life, Charles IV gave the thirteen green emeralds and sixty pearls that dominated the coronation of St. Wenceslaus’s crown in 1347. removed and had the crown set with blue sapphires. Thanks to the novelty of this year’s exhibition, the holographic animation, visitors will for the first time see the crown as it originally looked during the coronation. In addition, on the way to the display case with the crown jewels, they will have the opportunity to get to know individual gems in detail, including in the form in which they are found in nature.

Photo: Ruth Fraňková, Radio Prague International

A new work of art by Czech artist David Černý, in honour of the legendary Czech gymnast Věra Čáslavská, has been set up in Prague’s Malá Strana. The kinetic statue, which is ten metres high, was first exhibited at the recent Olympic Games in Paris, where it stood in front of the Czech House. Now it is available to view in the grounds of Tyrš House, home of the Sokol movement, in the Újezd neighbourhood.

The components of the statue move to resemble the motions of Čáslavská, an international champion in gymnastics and winner of seven Olympic medals.

See more here.

Photo: Klára Hlubocká, Česká ornitologická společnost

Despite years of appeals from nature and animal conservationists, the Czech police have not created a dedicated unit to address incidents of poisoned birds of prey or poaching. The frequency of these cases has been rising annually in Czechia. Instead, Czech police officers employ an alternative approach to tackling what is known as environmental crime.

Klára Hlubocká guides the retrievers to the river and is their sole handler for the Czech Society for Ornithology.

See more here.

Author: Jakub Ferenčík, Marie Veselá

Photo: Barbora Navrátilová, Radio Prague International

Roast duck served with dumplings and stewed red cabbage is a Czech specialty served at family dinners, neighborly gatherings, and on special occasions. Find out how we make it and how it compares to your own family recipe!

See more here.

Author: Barbora Navrátilová

Photo: Pavel Novak, Czech Radio

Getting coarse flour for crumble topping or the typical Czech cottage cheese needed for the country’s delicious kolaches is not easy in America. Many Czech and Slovak expats have these items delivered from Polish shops. But for those in the know, there is a store selling the things that Czechs crave when far from home. The Czech-Slovak mixed goods store on Jackson Street has been operating in New York for over two decades.

When Czech Radio’s correspondent Pavel Novák paid a visit to the Uhrik’s family store, he was given a warm welcome by the owners, who showed him round the place with pride.

See more here.

Author: Daniela Lazarová, Pavel Novák

Photo: Michaela Danelová, Czech Radio

The Czech Senate has approved a bill allowing Czechs living abroad to vote by mail. The legislation should come into force in time for the 2025 general elections.

The law has been in the making for two decades but faced fierce resistance in the lower house.

See more here.

Author: Vít Pohanka

Photo: René Volfík, iROZHLAS.cz

An upcoming amendment to the decree on medical fitness for active military service, effective September, aims to streamline the process for military enlistment. It will reduce paperwork, simplify entry requirements, and enable the government to mobilize more people quickly in times of crisis or war. But whether or not people are called up will depend on the specific role they apply for.

The Ministry of Defence is set to ease the requirements for joining the army, as the medical examination has previously been a major hurdle for many prospective recruits.

See more here.

Author: Jakub Ferenčík

Starting tomorrow, visitors to the Castle can once again observe the daily changing of the guard in front of the Giant’s Gate, which borders Prague Castle from Hradčanské náměstí. The gate was closed for several weeks due to the necessary reconstruction of security elements, which is now over.

During the reconstruction, the ceremonial changing of the guard was replaced by a performance of the Music of the Castle Guard. A musical performance of the Music of the Castle Guard was heard from 12 to 12:15 p.m. at the III. courtyard visitors for the last time today.

Starting tomorrow, the reopened gate will also be used for the exit of visitors from the Castle grounds to Hradčanské náměstí. And the Castle Guard is also returning, which, just like before the reconstruction, will perform daily duty at the posts of honor in front of the Giants’ Gate.

Photo: Fotografický obzor, r. 3, č. 1, Praha: Český klub fotografů amatérů/The National Library

World Photography Day is observed annually on August 19th to celebrate the art of photography and its roots globally. On this day in 1902 the first amateur photography club was founded in Prague.

The history of World Photography Day can be traced back to August 19, 1837, when the French government purchased the patent for the daguerreotype process and announced it as a gift “free to the world.

See more here.

Peters’s sable is characterized by – like other species of sable – a conspicuously elongated snout resembling a proboscis, which is almost constantly in motion. The picture shows an almost two-month-old female. Photo by Petr Hamerník, Prague Zoo

Prague Zoo was the first in the country to breed black and rufous elephant shrew (Rhynchocyon petersi), small African mammals with a bizarre appearance. The two cubs born are the result of several years of breeding efforts. Although at first glance, breams may resemble rodents or shrews, within the ancient group of mammals Afrotheria, they are genetically closer to elephants, damans, or even rakes. This species of bercoun, which inhabits only a small area of ​​Tanzania and Kenya, stands out from others with its rich color and size.

“Sensational breeding achievements are not necessarily represented by well-known and distinctive animals. Peters’s sable cubs are a shining example of this,” said the director of the Prague Zoo, Miroslav Bobek. “I believe that thanks to the current breeding, the charm of these fascinating creatures will reach another part of the public, and their new admirers will stop by the black and rufous elephant shrews on their way to see gorillas or elephants.”

The pair of cubs were born at the end of June, but only now can visitors see them up close in the Africa pavilion. As diurnal animals, they are active throughout the zoo’s opening hours. It was confirmed last week that they are male and female.

“At first, only the sounds and changes in the behavior of the female testified to the existence of the cubs. The parents raise their offspring in a nest, where breeders cannot easily observe them. Cubs are born furred and sighted, and their subsequent development is really remarkably fast – within a few weeks they switch to solid food and mature,” says Jaroslav Šimek, Zoological Deputy of the Prague Zoo.

The exposure of the black and rufous elephant shrews is full of vegetation and fallen leaves. In it, they are used to using their excellent sense of smell to look for food, especially invertebrates. They dig them out with their noticeably elongated moving snout resembling a proboscis. If they cannot grasp the prey in their teeth, they lick it with their tongue.

Both cubs can be easily observed in the indoor exhibit in the Africa pavilion up close. The picture shows a female in the front, a male in the back. Photo by Petr Hamerník, Prague Zoo

“At night, black and rufous elephant shrews create a nest similar to a simple burrow, which they line with, for example, fallen leaves. After a few days, they start a new nest,” explains mammal curator Pavel Brandl, adding that they spend the night alone. “In the wild, although black and rufous elephant shrews form pairs with a common territory, which the male protects, he only meets the female during mating.”

The black and rufous elephant shrews have many predators and their only protection is well-developed senses and hind limbs that enable a quick start and run. Long legs are characterized by elongated and fused lower leg bones – hence the Czech family name “bércoun”.

The black and rufous elephant shrews are endemics who are confined to a small area of ​​the Eastern Arc Mountains on the borders of Kenya and Tanzania. They are very rare in European zoos. Prague Zoo started breeding them in 2019.

The male came to the Prague Zoo from the Paris Zoo, the female from Germany. Photo by Oliver Le Que, Prague Zoo

In the Animal and Reptile Pavilion at the Prague Zoo, a Fossa couple are newly housed. These fascinating beasts live in the wild only in Madagascar, Africa. Visitors to the Prague Zoo can now observe the male and female of the largest beast of this tropical island. They should form a breeding pair in the future.

Our new beasts are perfectly adapted to life in trees, thanks to their incredible mobility and flexibility they can climb upside down. They are solitary animals that gather in traditional trees during mating season, where they meet with other members of their species every year. “The moats are now curiously exploring the interior display. When they get used to their new home, the keepers will also make the outdoor enclosure available to them,” says Pavel Brandl, curator of mammals at the Prague Zoo.

Fosy can climb upside down, and even run in tree branches in spirals. Photo by Oliver Le Que, Prague Zoo

Both animals, which recently arrived at the Prague Zoo from abroad, were born only last year. “According to the recommendation of the coordinator of the European Breeding Program (EEP), we will combine males and females only after reaching sexual maturity. That way, we could expect cubs in probably two years,” adds Pavel Brandl.

Island species are among the most endangered in the world. The endemic fossa is listed as a vulnerable species by the IUCN Red List, its population having declined by 30% over the past three generations due to habitat loss and persecution. In the wild, they are often considered a pest by indigenous people. In addition to lemurs, which are most often on their diet, they also sometimes hunt chickens or other poultry. The extensive forests where these exceptional beasts live are also disappearing.

Photo: Till Janzer, Radio Prague International

In the week from 17 to 24 August 2024, more than 30 young volunteers from five European countries will participate in an international camp focused on wetland restoration in Šumava National Park. The event is organised jointly with the Šumava National Park Administration and the Na Mysli organisation. I interviewed its director, Viktorie Tenzerová, to find out the organization’s motivations and impact of the camp.

“The motivation for our team, as organizers, is to provide some knowledge and skills to youth from the terrain, but also to help restore nature from man-made input from the past.

See more here.

Author: Jakub Ferenčík

Photo: Czech Center Paris

Jindřich Štyrský, a Czech painter, photographer, graphic artist, publisher, writer, poet, and stage designer for the Liberated Theatre, was a man of boundless talent and versatility.

He was a key figure of the interwar avant-garde, known for his uncompromising determination.

See more here.

Photo: Matěj Vodička, Czech Radio

The Cistercian monastery in Vyšší Brod is the final resting place of the Rožmberk clan, one of the richest and mightiest noble families in Bohemia. Thanks to cutting-edge technology experts have been able to view its interior and even produce replicas of the twin wedding rings of Petr Vok and his wife Kateřina.

The Rožmberk tomb was veiled in mystery for over 400 years.

See more here.

Author: Daniela Lazarová

Photo: Post Bellum

The late Eva Pilarová, one of the legends on the Czech music scene, would have turned 85 this weekend. In the course of her impressive career she sang swing, jazz, rock’n’roll, middle of the road pop and even funk and folk music.

Born in August 1939, just before the outbreak of World War II, Eva Pilarová was already an eager singer during her childhood and went on to study at the Janáček Academy of Music and Performing Arts in her hometown of Brno.

See more here.

Photo: ČT24

Leading Czech cultural figures have come out in support of their Slovak colleagues, many of whom have recently been sacked for opposing the policies of the Slovak culture minister. Czech artists say the former sister state should offer them jobs or at least a platform for expression.

Slovak cultural institutions are undergoing purges similar to those seen in Communist Czechoslovakia during the 1950s and 1970s.

See more here.

Author: Vít Pohanka

Almost a third of Czech pensioners retired early and the number of people unwilling to work until their set retirement age has doubled in the last two decades, according to data released by the Czech Social Security Administration.

See more here.

Author: Daniela Lazarová

Increasing the maximum subsidy to 20 million and doubling the allocation to 200 million. The Ministry for Regional Development has updated the conditions of the call, which will help municipalities and regions with the restoration of damaged property after natural disasters. The final deadline for submission of subsidy applications is moved forward by four months to September 30, 2025. Municipalities and regions will thus gain sufficient space to prepare projects for dealing with damages that may arise only at the end of this year.

The call represents a tool of the Ministry for Regional Development, which is able to respond flexibly to the demand of applicants for the reconstruction and new construction of property damaged or destroyed as a result of bad weather. “We have improved the parameters of the call so that our assistance to municipalities and regions affected by natural disasters is even more effective and can also be directed towards larger projects. We want municipalities and regions to be sure that when such an unexpected event occurs, the ministry is ready to help,” said Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Regional Development Ivan Bartoš regarding the changes in the subsidy call.

The call is intended for those municipalities and regions whose property has been damaged by the elements, either for its reconstruction or for the acquisition of new property with the same function. It can be, for example, bridges, roads, public lighting, public spaces, buildings and their equipment. Subsidies from this subprogramme can also be used for the removal of deposits in watercourses, waterworks and other related work.

“We are responding to natural disasters that occurred this spring, or may still occur before the end of the year. We have long-standing experience in helping to deal with damages caused by bad weather. There is still an ongoing challenge, which we are solving the damage caused last year. In that, 26 applications were submitted with a request for a subsidy in the amount of approximately 129 million crowns, most of them from the Zlín region (17). Actions for the restoration of bridges, footbridges, local roads and sidewalks dominate. A project for the restoration of the wall and the safety overflow is also submitted. The projects mostly deal with the consequences of the floods from the end of 2023,” added Richard Nikischer, director of the program management department of the Ministry for Regional Development.

The 2024 claims resolution call has been announced since March 13. Individual applicants are granted a subsidy of up to 70% of the actually incurred eligible costs of the event, while the maximum amount of the subsidy depends on the size of the given municipality. Specifically, for a municipality with up to 3,000 inhabitants, it is the mentioned 70% of eligible expenses, for a municipality from 3,001 to 10,000 inhabitants up to 60%, for a municipality with 10,001 or more inhabitants up to 50% and for a region a maximum of 40% of eligible expenses. The subsidy range for one application is now up to 20 million crowns.

Applicants can find the updated conditions HERE :

https://mmr.gov.cz/cs/narodni-dotace/podpora-a-rozvoj-regionu/obnova-obecniho-a-krajskeho-majetku-po-zivelni-(5)

Alleged Czech travel agency expert agency s.r.o., ID number: 17613949, does not have a license to operate a travel agency or insurance against bankruptcy and proves itself with forged documents. It sells its tours on the website dovolenkaprimori.eu. One of the clients pointed out the fraud.

The company expert agency s.r.o. does not have, and has never had, a license to operate a travel agency or a valid, legally required bankruptcy insurance. For the appearance of greater credibility, it sends clients an insurance policy upon request, which purportedly proves the contracted insurance in case of bankruptcy of the travel agency. The clients in the case of expert agency s.r.o. misinforms that in the event of bankruptcy, the insurance company will help them secure alternative accommodation and ensure repatriation (return to the homeland). Bankruptcy insurance also applies to refunds to clients who did not join the tour and paid a deposit or the entire tour. However, the contract that the company provides is concluded with another Czech travel agency, which with expert agency s.r.o. does not cooperate in any way. This was confirmed to the Ministry of Regional Development by the exclusive representative of UNIQA pojišťovna for the field of compulsory contractual insurance in case of bankruptcy of the CK from the company Fiducia s.r.o.

Websites on which expert agency s.r.o. offers its tours, they are in the Slovak language, and we can therefore assume that the target of fraud is primarily citizens of the Slovak Republic. We warn against buying any tour on the above-mentioned websites. We will forward the findings to the law enforcement authorities.

This is the second such case this year. The Ministry for Regional Development recommends that all travelers always check before choosing a vacation that the travel agency from which they buy the tour has compulsory bankruptcy insurance. Their list is on the MMR website. The travel agency organizing the tour should also have proof of the arranged bankruptcy insurance on its website. If the client buys a tour from a travel agency, the latter should, upon request, provide him with proof that the organizing CC, for which he is mediating the sale of the tour, has valid bankruptcy insurance.

Photo: Walker Art Gallery, Wikimedia Commons, public domain

Anton Raphael Mengs, one of the most prominent artists in 18th century Europe was born in Ústí nad Labem. We take a closer look at his connection to this region.

In the first half of the 18th century, as Baroque was fading and Classicism began to spread across Europe from France, a son was born to Saxon court painter Ismael Mengs in Ústí nad Labem in northern Bohemia on March 12, 1728.

See more here.

Author: Vít Pohanka

Photo: René Volfík, iROZHLAS.cz

The 21st edition of the Letní Letná festival, which showcases contemporary circus and theatre artists from at home and abroad, kicked off in Prague’s Letna Parks on Wednesday with a breathtaking performance by the French artistic ensemble Akoreacro. Several thousand people watched their acrobatic show “Arrêt d’urgence” near the Prague Metronome.

Letni Letná is a must for anyone who likes contemporary circus art and Czech fans buy tickets for it months in advance.

See more here.

Author: Daniela Lazarová

Photo: Marie Sýkorová, Czech Radio

The eighth part of our video series on Czech Music Greats is devoted to Vítězslava Kaprálová, a hugely talented Czech composer and conductor, who died at the age of just 25.

See more here.

Author: Barbora Navrátilová

Prague is planning to build a floating heliport on the Vltava River.

See more here.

Author: Daniela Lazarová

Photo: Dalibor Glück, ČTK

Do you know how grapes used to be processed in the old days? A festival in Boršice in the Uherské Hradiště region is a celebration of old traditions associated with the wine-growing and processing.

See more here.

Photo: Ashborne Games

The Russian prosecutor’s office is demanding a ban on the distribution of the computer game Last Train Home, developed by Ashborne Games in Brno. According to the Russian authorities, the game about Czechoslovak legionnaires incites hatred against the Russian government and the soldiers of the Red Army. I interviewed Managing Director of Ashborne Games Petr Kolář about the Russian prosecutor’s office accusations.

How did you approach the portrayal of Czechoslovak legionnaires in Last Train Home to ensure historical accuracy? And how would you respond to the Russian prosecutor’s office’s claim that the game contains false information and distorts historical facts?.

See more here.

Author: Jakub Ferenčík

Photo: Petr Šaj, Nature Conservation Agency of the Czech Republic

The population of the critically endangered peregrine falcon has been thriving in the Jeseníky Mountains in recent years. More than twenty pairs of these birds live in the highest peaks of the Moravian mountains in southern Czechia. This year they have produced 32 chicks, the third highest number since 2000.

The peregrine falcon’s return to the Jeseníky Mountains is a significant conservation success story.

See more here.

Author: Jakub Ferenčík

Photo: Barbora Navrátilová, Radio Prague International

Dumplings are our national specialty and a staple of the Czech cuisine. They are something like the Italian Gnocchi, Viennese nockerle or German knödel, only bigger and we have many more varieties. Dumplings that go with sauces, fruit dumplings that you can eat as dessert, Karlovy Vary dumplings, „hairy“ dumplings, bacon dumplings and many more. Which is your favourite?

See more here.

Author: Barbora Navrátilová

Photo: Martina Skutková, Czech Radio

One of the oldest and most colorful folk festivals in the country, the Chodsko Folk Festival, starts on Friday, offering visitors three days of bagpipe music, folk dancing and delicious Chodsko pies which are famous across the Atlantic. So if you want to see the real thing –Domažlice is the place to go this weekend.

Chodsko is an area in western Bohemia, which is rich in folklore traditions that are very much part of present-day life – be it the Chodsko cuisine –with its delicious, richly decorated pies, the local dances, folk costumes or bagpipe music.

See more here.

Author: Daniela Lazarová

Photo: René Volfík, iROZHLAS.cz

In light of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the Czech military has moved to increase the number of recruits it can rely on in case of an escalation. One program the army has rolled out this year is a one-month training for high school students. Over 100 students chose to participate, trading holiday comfort for early mornings, running in the woods, and military drills.

During the final hours of training, students practiced what they had learned over the month, such as putting on chemical protection gear and handling weapons correctly.

See more here.

Author: Jakub Ferenčík

Photo: Daniel Pilař, Archeologický ústav AV ČR

Archaeologists have uncovered a Neolithic settlement in Dobren, near Kutná Hora. This site, inhabited by the region’s earliest farmers during the early Stone Age, provides insight into life in the Czech lands seven thousand years ago.

The excavations in Dobren revealed the floor plans of four longhouses and nearby pits, which were utilized for clay extraction and as ancient disposal areas, containing shards of pottery, various stone tools and utensils.

See more here.

Author: Jakub Ferenčík

Prague’s Václav Havel Airport expects a 13% year-on-year increase in passengers for July and August, reaching around 3.

See more here.

Author: Vít Pohanka

Source: CAMP

One of the landmarks of Prague’s Vinohrady district is the beautiful neo-renaissance Water Tower. Prague City Hall has now announced plans to transform the listed technical monument, which no longer serves its purpose, into a state-of-the-art water education centre.

The Vinohrady Water Tower was built in 1882 based on a design by architect Antonín Turek.

See more here.

Author: Ruth Fraňková

Join us on a trip to the Ústí nad Labem Region with its Ore Mountains, the Elbe waterway and the sandstone rocks of Bohemian Switzerland.

See more here.

Author: Vít Pohanka

The number of tourists in the Czech Republic increased year-on-year in the second quarter, according to data published by the Czech Statistical Office.

See more here.

Author: Daniela Lazarová

Photo: Eva Turečková, Radio Prague International

With temperatures in the 30s people are looking for reservoirs, ponds, and pools in their vicinity to cool off. Czechia may not have a sea, but the countryside is dotted with lakes and even in Prague there are picturesque natural pools surrounded by greenery. Where are the best places to go and what can you expect? Radio Prague International visited a few of the best spots for outdoor swimming.

One of the most convenient spots for bathing and catching some rays in Prague is Žluté lázně, which is a tram ride down the Vltava to the Podolí neighbourhood.

See more here.

Photo: Roman Rudakov, Vlny Štvanice

As the summer sun heats up Prague, there’s a tranquil oasis waiting to be discovered on an island in the Vltava River: river surfing.

You may be forgiven for associating surfing almost exclusively with the Pacific shores of California and Hawaii, or Spain and Portugal on the Atlantic coast of Europe.

See more here.

Author: Vít Pohanka

Photo: Pražský ilustrovaný zpravodaj/Wikimedia Commons, public domain

On August 2, 1924, Czechoslovak Radio (then broadcasting under the name Radiojournal) attempted its first live sports report of a highly anticipated boxing match between Harry Knight (Rocky) representing the US and František Růžička (Frank Rose) of Czechoslovakia.

The commentator watching the match on Letná Plain used a nearby telephone booth from which he reported what was going on to someone in the broadcasting tent in Kbely, where his words were written down and read by a radio announcer.

See more here.

Photo: René Volfík, iROZHLAS.cz

The 14th Prague Pride Festival has kicked off, featuring 213 events spanning a wide range of genres across ten official venues and numerous other locations throughout the Czech capital. The festival’s slogan for this year is “Family is where the love is.” I spoke with Kamila Fröhlichová, the Festival Director, to learn more about what to anticipate from this year’s event.

First, I wanted to ask you about the theme of the festival this year, which is “Family is where the love is.

See more here.

Author: Jakub Ferenčík

This edition of Sunday music is dedicated to Czech singer songwriter, composer and poet Oldřich Janota, who died last Saturday at the age of 74. The Plzeň-born artist was known for incorporating minimalist and experimental techniques into folk music. Despite never winning any major music awards, he has been hailed by music critics as one of the most significant figures on the Czech alternative music scene.

See more here.

Author: Ruth Fraňková

Photo: Michal Kamaryt, ČTK

In response to a recently foiled plot targeting the Rainbow Pride march in Slovakia, police have ramped up security for this week’s Prague Pride Festival. The Interior Ministry has deployed riot police, anti-conflict teams, and additional personnel to oversee over 200 events across Prague, anticipating around 60,000 participants. So are we seeing growing intolerance to the LGBTQ+ community in Czechia? I spoke with Georgy Kalakutskii from Group ComingOut, an organization supporting the Russian LGBTQ+ community.

How do instances of violence against the LGBTQ+ community in Czechia compare to those in other European countries?.

See more here.

Author: Jakub Ferenčík

Photo: Klára Stejskalová, Radio Prague International

According to the latest Deloitte Property Index, Czechia ranks as the second-most expensive country in Europe to buy property when adjusting for salaries. The situation is equally dire for renters, with rent prices nearly doubling between 2005 and 2020, making Czechia one of the least affordable rental markets in Europe. I asked Vladimír Vaňo, Chief Economist at GLOBSEC, about the factors contributing to these rising costs.

“I would split this question into long-term factors and short-term factors.

See more here.

Author: Jakub Ferenčík

Photo: Kunsthalle Praha

What We Should Have Said But Didn’t is the title of a new installation by Ester Geislerová, an artist who is perhaps better known as an actress. The exhibition, at Kunsthalle Praha, explores relationships via a series of related videos.

Ester Geislerová comes from a well-known Prague family of artists and actors and is perhaps most closely associated with her numerous screen roles.

See more here.

Author: Ian Willoughby

Photo: Michaela Říhová, ČTK

Every year, divers from all over the world gather in the granite quarry in the village of Hřiměždice, near the central Bohemian town of Příbram, to take part in the annual cliff jumping festival. The jumps from a height exceeding 20 metres are followed by a musical afterparty on several stages.

See more here.

Photo: Radio Prague International

Czechia’s outdated system of construction permits has long been a thorn in the side of developers and building companies. Now efforts to digitize it are threatening the stability of the government.

Czech Deputy Prime Minister Ivan Bartoš from the Pirate Party is under fire from all sides.

See more here.

Author: Vít Pohanka

The bramborák, or potato pancake, is a blend of Jewish and Germanic cuisine, drawing on elements of each to appeal to Czech tastes. It can be eaten on its own as a quick snack or a delicious side for stew. And they are super easy to make! Here is how.

See more here.

Author: Barbora Navrátilová

Mobi explores the outdoor enclosure of the Dja Reserve from the back of his mother, Duni. Photo by Petr Hamerník, Prague Zoo

MOBI IS SWINGING ON A ROPE, GAIA IS STARTING TO CLIMB, AND HARAPAN WILL BE THREE MONTHS

Great ape hat trick – that’s how you could describe the trio of the most outstanding cubs born this year at the Prague Zoo. Both the small gorillas and the orangutan are thriving and showing themselves more and more to visitors. Mobi’s favorite thing to do is to play on the ropes and swing upside down on them, while her younger sister Gaia is sucking vegetables and starting to toddler. Orangutan Harapan, who will be 3 months old tomorrow, already regularly spends time in the outdoor enclosure.

“Never before have three ape babies been seen at the Prague Zoo at the same time,” says chief primate keeper Martin Vojáček. All small primates make him happy, but according to him, it is also interesting to observe the differences between them and also between their parents. “Mobi likes to ride on her mother Duni’s back, but Kijiva, on the other hand, only carries little Gaia in the palm of her hand, as if in an excavator spoon. None of her previous Kijiva cubs had been carried on her back until she had climbed onto them herself at a more mature age. In contrast, orangutans, as arboreal primates, carry their offspring only on their bellies.”

Seven-month-old Mobi’s favorite pastime these days is swinging upside down on ropes. Photo by Petr Hamerník, Prague Zoo

The seven-month-old lowland gorilla Mobi, the first granddaughter of the famous Moja, is already moving away from her mother by a few meters these days. Duni is very careful with her first born, but she is now letting her interact with all members of the gorilla family. He also allows her more and more games and pranks. Mobi prefers to swing upside down on lower ropes.

Three-and-a-half-month-old Gaia is newly tasting adult food, especially pieces of cucumber or salad that her mother Kijiva drops while eating. Gaia, the goddaughter of the world-famous Jane Goodall, is learning to climb. Visitors can thus watch her first steps.

Kijivu with his three and a half month old daughter Gaia. Gaia is starting to toddler these days and is also tasting the vegetables that the other gang members drop when eating. Photo by Petr Hamerník, Prague Zoo

Harapan will be three months tomorrow. A small Sumatran orangutan tries to grasp objects in its surroundings, such as play materials or vegetation in the enclosure. His mother Diri regularly “exercises” him – lifting him above her head, stretching his limbs, and cleaning his nasal cavity and eyes from sleeping pills. In the last days, she started putting her firstborn on the ground next to her.

Lowland gorillas in the Dja Reserve are best seen when feeding in the indoor exhibit at 10am or 3pm, in the outdoor enclosure the best chance to meet them is before the morning feeding around 9.30am or when the group is enjoying the early evening sun around 5pm. Male orangutan Harapan can be found inside the Indonesian Jungle Pavilion, where he goes to the outdoor enclosure every day after 3pm and spends the rest of the day with his mother Diri and father Pagy.

The small orangutan male Harapan can be seen by visitors to the Prague Zoo in the outdoor exhibit of the Indonesian Jungle every day after 3 p.m. Photo by Petr Hamerník, Prague Zoo

All three cubs – Mobi, Gaia, and Harapan – belong within their species (in the case of gorillas within a subspecies), among animals critically endangered according to the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

Photo: Adam Čada, Občanská plovárna

The city of Paris spent huge amounts of money ahead of the Olympics to make the River Seine safe for swimming. Unlike the French capital, Prague already has several public bathing spots along the Vltava. Does that mean that swimming in Prague poses no risk? I discussed the question with Tomáš Hrdinka of the T.G. Masaryk Water Research Institute,

“I can say that swimming in the Vltava in Prague is generally safe.

See more here.

Author: Ruth Fraňková

Photo: Michal Šafařík, Czech Radio

Trees do not only improve air quality by removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. They can also significantly reduce noise levels by absorbing and refracting sound waves. Scientists from Brno are currently investigating how trees could be used as sound barriers against traffic noise.

Being exposed to higher traffic noise has been directly linked to all sorts of health issues, including insomnia, depression and high blood pressure.

See more here.

Author: Ruth Fraňková

Photo: René Volfík, iROZHLAS.cz

A Kantar agency survey for Czech Television found that only 17 percent of Czechs were satisfied with the state of Czech politics. Since the survey was published, austerity policies aimed at tackling the public deficit have added to the general dissatisfaction. Czechs are mainly dissatisfied with the government’s handling of inflation, rising living costs, energy price regulations, and poor public communication.

“First of all, it is important to highlight that the government did not really have good conditions when it came in because the country was dealing with the aftermath of COVID, the [Russo-Ukrainian] war started in the first month of the government, the energy crisis, and inflation.

See more here.

Author: Jakub Ferenčík

Photo: Barbora Navrátilová, Radio Prague International

A recent analysis by the Czech Statistical Office revealed that children raised in low-income families often remain in the poorer segments of the population as adults. Over a third of individuals who experienced financial hardship during childhood still find themselves among the least wealthy in adulthood.

The study, presented by statistician Simona Měřinská in “Statistics and Us,” involved a survey asking respondents about their household’s financial situation at age fourteen.

See more here.

Author: Jakub Ferenčík

Countess Diana Phipps Sternberg, a renowned interior designer, philanthropist, and member of the old Czech nobility, passed away in Vienna on July 31, 2024, at the age of 88.

Born in 1936, Diana’s life journey took her to various corners of the world, where she established herself as an accomplished interior designer.

See more here.

Author: Jakub Ferenčík

Since the beginning of the year, when applications are handled exclusively by the Office of the President of the Republic, over 700 have arrived at the Castle. Now the President of the Republic has decided to grant four applicants.

The President of the Republic decided to pardon the remainder of the sentence of less than 300 days to a twenty-nine-year-old mother caring for three minor children. The sentence was imposed on her for a less serious property crime and caused damage in the amount of less than thirteen thousand crowns. The President paid particular attention to the need to provide care for children between the ages of three and seven, who are now being looked after by their father. He cannot go to work, which worsens the family’s already unfavorable financial situation. The competent childcare authority also supported the decision to grant a pardon.

The President of the Republic granted a pardon to a thirty-six-year-old mother who, before her imprisonment, took care of her seven children aged between two and nine. As part of the pardon, she was pardoned the remainder of her prison sentence totaling four years and four months, part of which she had already served. The sentences were imposed on her for theft and unauthorized business, which she committed 10 to 12 years ago. Their father took care of the children. Due to the demanding nature of care, there is a risk of children being taken away and placed in foster care or institutional care. The competent childcare authority also supported the decision to grant a pardon.

A pardon request for a thirty-six-year-old foreigner, a university student, long-term resident, and worker in the Czech Republic, who crashed into two parked cars while driving under the influence of alcohol and caused damage in the amount of less than one hundred and twelve thousand crowns, was also positively processed. He paid this in full, as well as a fine of sixty thousand crowns, and served more than half of the two-year driving ban. However, for the misdemeanor, he was threatened with the cancellation of his long-term residence permit in the Czech Republic, which would be a much harsher punishment for him as a result. He has been living here for seven years, owns an apartment together with his wife, and has created all the necessary family, work, and social background. He pays taxes, has never been registered at the labor office, or received social or other benefits. He has also not committed any other crime or misdemeanor here so far.

The last pardon received was a 76-year-old Czech citizen who was sentenced abroad to a 27-year non-conditional prison sentence for drug smuggling. Due to the applicant’s age, this sentence is de facto a life sentence. The President of the Republic also took into account the fact that in the Czech Republic, the penalty for the same criminal offense is between eight and twelve years. The applicant has already served six years of his sentence abroad, less than two years ago he was transferred back to the Czech Republic, where he is serving the remainder. The granted pardon will reduce the sentence from twenty-seven to a total of eight years, which the convict will complete in November of this year, and will therefore be in line with the lower limit of the criminal rate set in the Czech Republic.

Under the previous president, Miloš Zeman, the power of granting pardons was transferred to the Ministry of Justice. However, the president decided last year to return the agenda of pardons from the Ministry of Justice back to the Office of the President of the Republic.

 From January 1, 2024, applications will be assessed exclusively by the Office of the President of the Republic.

Photo: Ondřej Hájek, ČTK

The Olympic Festival at Lake Most in the north of Czechia runs throughout the Paris Games. Visitors can try out various sports or enjoy a colourful accompanying programme, as well as supporting Czech athletes at the Olympics on two big screens. Medal winners are expected to visit the site toward the end of the Games.

See more here.

The Goodwill Run charity race will be run for the sixth time in September, the balance of which so far is more than gratifying. Over two and a half thousand young and adult competitors took part in the previous five years, who contributed 1,943,327 crowns to help 229 families who found themselves in an unfavorable life situation. Last year’s fifth year of the run alone raised a record 658,800 crowns to help 103 families in need.

This year’s Goodwill Run of the Olga Havlova Foundation will take place on Tuesday, September 10, in the Hvězda nature reserve in Prague 6. All proceeds will again be donated to help families in need, i.e. families who have lost a roof over their heads, single-parent families, and families with medically disadvantaged children.

The goodwill run of the Olga Havel Foundation will once again help families in need Goodwill Committee – Olga Havel Foundation (vdv.cz)

One of them is the family of eleven-year-old Adélka from Ostrava – Krásné Pole, who suffers from a rare form of muscular dystrophy. Because of this, it has almost no strength and cannot do without all-day care. At the moment, Adélka needs a new, larger wheelchair, light and tailored to fit her back twisted by illness. Adélka will use it, especially at school.

Goodwill Run

is a race for the general running public. The circuit, 2.5 km long, leads along the sand paved roads of the Hvězda nature reserve. The race grounds will be located in the forefield near Vypich, the cross-country tracks will lead in the Hvězda nature reserve.

Transport

tram and bus to Obora Hvězda or Sídliště Petřiny stops. Parking is possible to a limited extent around the nature reserve (longitudinally in Na Vypichu and Libocká streets).

Registration – https://www.stopnito.cz/detail-zavodu/852

the online form is used to register for the race. The capacity of the race is limited, so we recommend paying the entry fee as soon as possible. On-site registration will only be possible in case of free capacities. The name on the starting number can be printed for runners who registered online until 8 September 2024 at 11:59 p.m.

Category

adults

Running for women 5 km (2 x 2.5 km)

Women’s 10 km individual run (4 x 2.5 km)

Individual race men 10 km (4 x 2.5 km)

Relays (4 x 2.5 km)

Company run (4 x 2.5 km)

Embassies (4 x 2.5 km)

Juniors 15-18 years (2.5 km)

Entry fee

consists of a registration fee of CZK 100 plus a gift

Children’s races CZK 100

Junior race 200 CZK

Running for women 5 km CZK 700

Individual run 10 km CZK 800

Relay (4 x 2.5 km) CZK 2,500

Corporate run (4 x 2.5 km) CZK 5,500

Embassies Run (4 x 2.5 km) CZK 5,500

The entry fee includes race registration and entry number with name and chip.

Competitors pick up their starting number on the day and place of the race (see time schedule). In addition to the entry fee, women’s and men’s functional T-shirts can be purchased for CZK 380 when registering for the race online.

Virtual entry fee

For those who cannot or do not want to run, but would still like to contribute to a good cause, a virtual entry fee of CZK 700 is intended.

Children’s races

will take place on the paved roads in front of the summer house, categories according to the age of the child:

• children born before September 10, 2021 and parents with strollers 100 m track
• children born in 2020 – 2021 track 400 m
• children born in 2018 – 2019, 600 m track
• children born in 2015 – 2017, 800 m track
• children born in 2010 – 2014 1000 m track

Accompanying program

In addition to the running itself, participants of the sports afternoon can look forward to javelin throwing with Olympian Irena Gillarová, exercise with the USK athletic training camp, the Spejbla and Hurvínek theater, or taking pictures in the photo booth with Olga and Václav Havel. Tasty refreshments will be provided by the Slunce bakery for everyone and cooks from the Homeless Cooks Project, and the Neratov brewery will take care of the drinking regime.

There will be interactive stands of the Ukrainian European Initiative, the public benefit company Bona, which cares for people with mental illness, the Rozkoše bez riska stand, and the Prague 8 Volunteer Fire Brigade.

The patronage of the entire race was taken over by ultra-marathoner Miloš Škorpil, Olympian javelin thrower Irena Gillarová, and, this year, also disabled athlete Heřman Volf, chairman of the organization Cesta za snem and winner of the Public Prize as part of the Olga Havel Award 2023.

More information can be found : https://www.vdv.cz/clanky/novinky/sesty-rocnik-behu-dobre-vule-nadace-olgy-havlove/

Photos from last year by: Jiří Vinš

Photo: Martina Schneibergová, Radio Prague International

Summer holidays in Czechia are firmly associated with one of the most favourite Czech pastimes – mushroom picking. And although the weather might not seem like it, conditions for mushroom hunting are quite good at the moment. At least according to a special map predicting mushroom growth around the country.

Mushroom picking is something of a national pastime in Czechia.

See more here.

Author: Ruth Fraňková

The South Bohemia Region will launch an online medical emergency service for both children and adults that will be available 24 hours a day, starting on August 1, the governor’s office announced on its website. South Bohemia is the first region in the Czech Republic to offer this service, in response to growing complaints about a lack of general practitioners outside of the big cities. Due to a shortage of GPs in smaller towns and villages it is proving increasingly difficult to maintain emergency services in many areas. The online emergency service will be available twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, free of charge. The costs, amounting to around 14 million crowns a year, will be covered by the region.

Author: Daniela Lazarová

The “kulajda” is a rich, creamy, sour-sweet soup perfect for cold weather. Many families have their own recipe for this Czech specialty and you can order it both in pubs and classy restaurants. Watch our video to find out how it is made.

See more here.

Author: Barbora Navrátilová

Photo: Khalil Baalbaki, Czech Radio

Rocker Michael Kocáb, who turned 70 on Sunday, is known as front man of Pražský výběr but also oversaw the departure of Soviet troops from Czechoslovakia.

Prague-born Michael Kocáb founded Pražský výběr (Prague Selection) in 1976.

See more here.

Photo: Luboš Pavlíček, ČTK

Ten years ago, Czech mountaineer Radek Jaroš successfully climbed the world’s second-highest mountain, K2, and thus completed the ascent of all 14 of the globe’s “eight-thousanders”. He was the first Czech to achieve this feat, and only the 15th person in the world to do so without using supplemental oxygen.

Jaroš climbed his first “eight-thousander” – the 14 mountains recognised by the International Mountaineering and Climbing Federation as being more than 8,000 metres in height above sea level, and sufficiently independent of neighbouring peaks – in 1998.

See more here.

Author: Anna Fodor

Illustrative photo: BiljaST, Pixabay, Pixabay License

Czechia consistently lags behind in terms of English proficiency compared to the majority of its European neighbours. Education Minister Mikuláš Bek thinks the key to improving results is starting to teach English earlier, and is proposing that the compulsory age at which children start learning the world’s most widely-spoken foreign language be decreased.

According to the latest English Proficiency Index (EPI) from 2023, conducted by the international education organisation English First and based on the largest sample size of test results in the world, Czechia ranks lower than all other EU countries in terms of English proficiency, with the exception of only France, Italy, and Spain.

See more here.

Author: Anna Fodor

Starting on August 1, people interested in sharing electricity can register with the Electroenergetic Data Center (EDC) in Czechia, marking the beginning of community energy in this country. The EDC system allows for the registration and sharing of locally produced electricity. Full operations, including storage and aggregation services, are expected by mid-2026. Last year’s amendment to the energy law facilitates this by enabling electricity sharing within and between different locations. Households, municipalities, and businesses can participate in two regimes: active customer mode for up to 11 transfer points and energy communities for up to 1000 points within contiguous administrative areas.

Author: Vít Pohanka

Photo: X of Czech Please

The anonymous writer behind the Czech Please social media accounts has been reviewing restaurants in Prague for over a decade and a half. Also going by the pen name Brewsta, Czech Please has built up a large and dedicated following as one of Czechia’s best-known English-language food bloggers. When we met at a cool Prague café, we discussed the city’s dining scene at length – but I first asked Czech Please a little about himself.

When did you first come to Prague?.

See more here.

Author: Ian Willoughby

Photo: Czech Olympic Committee

The Czech House in Paris’s La Villette, which will serve as the country’s public hub for the Olympic Games, was officially inaugurated on Friday afternoon by snowboard cross champion Eva Adamczyk. Just before the opening ceremony, I spoke with the centre’s communications manager Daniela Jurion.

“The Czech House is mainly about connecting athletes with fans.

See more here.

Author: Ruth Fraňková

Burčák, which is partially fermented young wine, should go on sale in Czechia relatively early this year, the Czech News Agency reported on Monday.

One winemaker, Miloslav Machuča from Úvaly near Valtice in the Břeclav region, said that he had already started harvesting his first grapes and would start selling burčák on August 1, the first day the drink may be sold.

This year’s growing season has accelerated the ripening process and the 2024 harvest should be better than those seen in recent years, Mr. Machuča said.

Author: Ian Willoughby

Photo: Petr Kubát, Czech Radio

The internationally acclaimed dancer and choreographer Jiří Bubeníček is currently conducting ballet master classes in Český Krumlov as part of an international music festival. These workshops not only culminate in a final concert where the young participants perform, but also provide them with valuable experience from professionals worldwide.

Dancer and choreographer Jiří Bubeníček first conducted ballet master classes at the International Music Festival in Český Krumlov for the second year.

See more here.

Author: Jakub Ferenčík

The global security situation is extremely serious and also has impact on Czechia, the head of the Czech Counter Intelligence Service (BIS) Michal Koudelka said on Sunday on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of its establishment.

In an interview for the Czech News Agency, Mr. Koudelka said the world was “on the brink of a global conflict”. Among the current threats, he cited Russian imperialism, as well as sabotage and intelligence operations by Russia, China and Iran.

He also mentioned hostile propaganda, migration, the threat of Islamic terrorism, the rise of right-wing extremism, the illegal arms trade, cyber attacks and the risk of misuse of artificial intelligence.

According to Mr. Koudelka, the intelligence service will continue to do its utmost to contribute to the protection of Czechia and its citizens.

Author: Ruth Fraňková

Photo: Barbora Reichová, Czech Olympic Committee

Professional rock climber Adam Ondra, who arrived in Paris on Thursday, is set to compete in his second Olympic Games. In Tokyo three years ago, when climbing was included in the Olympic program for the first time, the Czech finished sixth in an event that combined speed climbing, bouldering, and lead climbing. Ondra says the three radically different disciplines in a single format did not suit him at the time. What will be different in Paris?

This time, the climbing program features two separate events: speed climbing and a combined bouldering and lead climbing event.

See more here.

Author: Jakub Ferenčík

Prya is a young female who just turned two a month ago. Photo by Petr Hamerník, Prague Zoo

Two female bison from the Prague Zoo, two-year-old Prya, and six-year-old Oman, are awaiting transport to Azerbaijan. In the Shahdag National Park, it will strengthen the reintroduced population of these ungulates in the wild. Both females left the Prague Zoo today to first get to know the rest of the herd intended for transport in the German Tierpark Berlin. They will head to the vast forests at the foot of the Caucasus Mountains in November.

“The two female bison that left Prague for Berlin today will strengthen the renewed population of these ungulates in the Caucasus in Azerbaijan. In this case, zoos are a modern-day Noah’s ark, which enabled the survival of animals exterminated in nature and their later reintroduction,” said the director of the Prague Zoo, Miroslav Bobek.

Prya, a female born in the Prague Zoo, will settle in the Shahdag National Park this year, which with its 130,000 hectares is the largest national park not only in Azerbaijan, but also in the entire Caucasus. Photo by Petr Hamerník, Prague Zoo

Bison were exterminated in the Caucasus in the mid-1920s. The project for their return is supported by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of the Republic of Azerbaijan, and the European Association of Zoos and Aquariums (EAZA), of which the Prague Zoo is a member.

“For the transport, the breeding coordinator selected the young female Prya from our Prague stud, as well as the older, experienced female Omana, who will play the role of matriarch in the newly formed herd. Most of the bison candidates for transport have barely reached the age of three. Omana will thus ensure the natural structure of the herd, for the functioning of which the presence of experienced animals is important,” Barbora Dobiášová, curator of ungulates at the Prague Zoo, describes the selected individuals.

Omana is a six-year-old female and will play the role of matriarch in the reintroduced population. Photo by Petr Hamerník, Prague Zoo

Prya was born in the Prague Zoo in June 2022 to mother Beatrice originally from Zoo Bratislava and breeding bull Tipita originally from Tierpark Berlin. Omana was born in May 2018 at the Olomouc Zoo and arrived in Prague in September 2019. The second mentioned female Bison can be easily recognized by the broken left corner.

Both females were safely loaded into transport crates around nine in the morning today and thus began their long journey from Prague through Berlin to Azerbaijan. It will arrive at Tierpark Berlin, which coordinates the project together with the German branch of the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) and collects the animals, today after 2 pm. The Prague Zoo will inform you about the exact date of the air transport.

The loading of both bison went well. In the picture, six-year-old Omana, who can be easily identified by the broken left corner, observes her surroundings from the transport box. Photo by Miroslav Bobek, Prague Zoo

The Prague Zoo has been breeding bison since 1948. Since then, over a hundred cubs have been born here. Prague Zoo has already provided animals from its breeding in the past for reintroduction, not only to strengthen the Caucasian population, but also to the Bieszczady National Park in Poland.

Source: La Biennale di Venezia

Three Czech films are set to screen at the Venice film festival at the end of this summer – including a mixed-reality immersive film set in a Ukrainian living room. Although none of the Czech offerings this year are in the running for the Golden Lion in the main Venezia 81 competition, all are competing in smaller categories.

After Party, the debut film by director and screenwriter Vojtěch Strakatý, about a girl whose carefree life changes radically when bailiffs come to evict her family from their house, will be in the Orizzonti Extra section, which features works of different genres that aim to innovate and demonstrate creative originality.

See more here.

Author: Anna Fodor

UN Tourism continues to deliver on its Agenda for Africa, bringing the region’s Members together around a focus on investments, multilateral cooperation, and education.

The 67th meeting of the UN Tourism Regional Commission for Africa took place in Livingstone, Zambia, on 23 July 2024 – welcoming public and private sector leaders from across the region.

The Member States met as Africa’s tourism sector experienced a strong recovery. During the first quarter of 2024, arrivals were up 5% compared to pre-pandemic levels. This positions the continent as the second-best performer globally, surpassing all regions except the Middle East.

Secretary General, Zurab Pololikashvili, stated, “Zambia, as the whole African region, is an excellent example of the positive impact of tourism, which leads to new investments and job creation. Furthermore, our Members come together in Livingstone as Zambia celebrates 60 years of peace and independence, an inspiration as we get set to mark World Tourism Day around the theme of ‘tourism and peace’ in September.”

Read more : https://www.unwto.org/news/new-academies-communications-strategy-and-more-investments-un-tourism-sets-course-for-african-members?utm_source=news&utm_medium=crm

Photo: Ian Willoughby, Radio Prague International

Veronika Tuckerová has been teaching Czech Studies at Harvard University for the past decade. But she has also done extensive research into the Prague German-language author Franz Kafka. Indeed, the academic is currently preparing a book entitled Reading Kafka in Prague: The Reception of Franz Kafka in Czechoslovakia, which mainly looks at changing perceptions of the writer in the communist period, when his works were for the most part banned. I spoke to Veronika Tuckerová at our Prague studios.

“What led me originally to Kafka is simply being from Prague and reading some of his works, which I had access to, even though he was not published in the ‘70s and ‘80s, when I was growing up.

See more here.

Author: Ian Willoughby

Photo: Office of Czech Government

The Czech government has decided that the country’s candidate for the next European Commission will be the current minister of industry and trade, Jozef Síkela. Prime Minister Petr Fiala said after a cabinet meeting on Wednesday evening that Mr. Síkela had a proven track record in both the private sector and government. I spoke with Viktor Daněk, deputy director of the Europeum Institute, about the decision and its implications.

So, previously, Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala said that for its next European commissioner, it would prioritize an economic portfolio.

See more here.

Author: Jakub Ferenčík

Photo: Barbora Navrátilová, Radio Prague International

Czech sausages come in a huge variety of different types. Every region, town, village, and sometimes even family has its own! Find out more about “klobásy” and “taliány” in the next episode of our video series Czech food classics!

See more here.

Author: Barbora Navrátilová

Photo: Zuzana Jarolímková, iROZHLAS.cz

Canoeist Jiří Prskavec is one of Czechia’s brightest medal hopes going into the Olympic Games in Paris. The kayak single specialist is current Olympic titleholder, a multiple world and European champion – and Czech number one in a sport in which the country traditionally does well.

Jiří Prskavec has actually been in Paris since the start of July and last Saturday had the honour of taking part in the Olympic torch relay at the Vaires-sur-Marne water sports stadium in the French capital.

See more here.

Author: Guillaume Narguet, Ian Willoughby

A ban on cars and taxis at night in part of Prague’s Old Town district will come into force on Wednesday or Thursday, Prague 1 city councillor Vojtěch Ryvola told the Czech News Agency. The measure aims to reduce noise at night in the area around Dlouhá Street, where a large number of night clubs are located and where local residents have long been complaining about noise. The ban on entry between 10 pm and 6 am will apply to the area between the Dvořák embankment, Pařížská street, Old Town Square and Revoluční street.

Prague 1 tried to introduce the ban last November, but it was immediately revoked by the municipal department of road transport after it was criticised by Prague Mayor Bohuslav Svoboda.

Author: Anna Fodor

Photo: Ian Willoughby, Radio Prague International

The ice cube-like New Stage of the National Theatre in Prague is to undergo major renovations, its operators announced on Tuesday. An adjacent building will also get an overhaul, and more use will be made of the small plaza linking the complex to the historic National Theatre.

The now protected New Stage of the National Theatre, whose outward appearance is frequently compared to an ice cube, was designed by one of the most distinctive Czech architects of the modern era, Karel Prager.

See more here.

Author: Ian Willoughby

Photo: Lenka Žižková, Radio Prague International

As every year, dozens of students from all over the world arrived in Czechia to take part in this year’s edition of the annual Summer Czech Course for Expats organised by Charles University’s Institute for Language and Preparatory Studies. For the past few years, the course has been held in the charming spa town of Poděbrady in Central Bohemia. We caught up with some of them to find out about their motivation to study Czech.

Now in its 31st year, the Summer Czech Course for Expats is primarily designed for members of the Czech expat communities abroad, but it is open to anyone interested in learning Czech or getting to know Czech culture and history, whatever their motivations may be.

See more here.

Author: Ruth Fraňková

Photo: Official website of Olympijský festival

A mini Eiffel Tower made entirely out of recycled ocean waste has been erected near Lake Most in north Bohemia. The replica will be one of the centrepieces of the Olympic Festival, organised by the Czech Olympic Committee, taking place on the shores of the country’s largest pit lake during the Games.

The 12.

See more here.

Author: Ruth Fraňková

Photo: Barbora Navrátilová, Radio Prague International

Maybe you’ve heard of Lenny because she’s the daughter of legendary Czech singer Lenka Filipová. But as we learned from the conversation you’re about to listen to, Lenny is a force of nature in her own right, taking popular Czech music by storm. On this episode of the Faces of Czech Music, the singer and songwriter opens up to us about how she loves to write her own music, the way she deals with criticism, and how she often feels more comfortable in English than in Czech.

See more here.

Author: Petr Dudek, Amelia Mola-Schmidt

The second week of the Krumlov Festival brought experiences full of emotions in the spirit of the motto “Creating and inspiring muses” with an emphasis on original Czech work. At the same time, the 33rd edition respects the fact that this year is the Year of Czech Music and celebrates the anniversary of many composers. 200 years have passed since the birth of Bedřich Smetana in March, the English playwright William Shakespeare was born 460 years ago, and round numbers encourage celebration in connection with Antonín Dvořák, Leoš Janáček and others. Not only their work attracted several thousand people to Český Krumlov and outside the city.

The festival is now halfway through and will reopen to the public today, Wednesday 24th July. The Mucha Trio will perform in the Krumlov Municipal Theater from 7:30 p.m. It consists of pianist Johanna Haniková, violinist Ludmila Pavlová, and clarinetist Anna Paulová. Named after painter Alfons Mucha and Scottish-Czech composer Geraldine Mucha. The concert will feature her Capriccio for flute, clarinet, and piano arranged by Daria Kukal Moiseeva. And also the works of Igor Stravinsky, Aram Khačaturyan, Dario Milhaud, Kateřina Horká, and Ivan Kurz. In addition to the classics, it will also offer a musical and, at the end, a musical-ballet rendition of Romeo and Juliet

“The reaction of the audience to the concerts and events so far is very beautiful, we are excited about them. People appreciate the diversity and quality of the program, as well as the stars, current and future, that we have the honor of welcoming. This year, for example, the world legend Plácid Domingo,” says the director of the Krumlov Festival, Gabriela Rachidi, adding: “With the motto ‘Creating and inspiring muses’, in addition to unique musical experiences, we also think about sustainability and social responsibility, simply: we try to give something back to the environment where we organize the festival. After all, in this year’s logo we have two joined hearts. They symbolize not only the 33rd year, but also the love for music and the exceptional environment of Český Krumlov, which is an integral part of the music festival.”

What happened

…2. festival week? Tribute to Czech composers On July 17, the city theater paid tribute to important Czech music creators. On the same day, a concert at MOLO LIPNO offered jazz for a voluntary entrance fee, the proceeds of which will go to help disadvantaged children. The Spanish Baroque zarzuela, i.e. the central dramatic and musical genre of the Spanish Golden Age, found a temporary home on July 18 and 19 in the unique Baroque Theatre. The magnificent ancient story of the war between the Olympian gods and the giants took place there. On July 19, a tribute to Czech female composers was commemorated in the Jesuit Hall of the Rose Hotel by Czech composers Vítězslav Kaprálova, Zdenka Kendíková, Jana Obrovská, Anna Houdková-Kozánková, Geraldine Mucha, Sláva Vorlova and Matylda Chrudimská. A day later, Night in Hollywood charted film scores and in the Brewery Garden, recalling the most famous tunes of the silver screen. And the 2nd festival Sunday was symbolically closed by the Belfiato Quintet. The Krumlov synagogue was resounded by the harmonically harmonized notes of the flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon and French horn.

Festival zone

… is an integral traditional part of the festival. In the Monastery Garden, the public can usually visit it on days when concerts are held. Music performances, music exercises, workshops and other entertainment for all ages can be enjoyed for free.

Support of the venue and those who cannot help themselves,

… is an inherent part of the music festival. Festival Krumlov helps blind children from the Jaroslav Ježek Primary School for the Blind with proceeds from the sale of concert programs and brochures from the Primary School Český Krumlov. It also gives space to young talents and educates the public through thematic lectures. Before the Bruckner / Smetana 200 concert on Thursday, August 1, the South Bohemian National Memory is preparing it in front of the church in the village of Svatý Kámen. Before the final concert of Shakespeare 460: Romeo and Juliet, Professor Martin Hilský will perform in the Study Center of the Krumlov Castle on Saturday, August 3 from 5:00 p.m. The festival also participates in many other projects that benefit the public.

Economic benefit

… the music festival concerns not only the residents of Český Krumlov or the South Bohemian Region, but the whole of the Czech Republic. Tourists from all over the world go to the concerts, in addition to the musical experience, they need somewhere to sleep, eat and want to visit other places as well. The festival thus forms a platform for the exchange and meeting of people from different countries and of different ages.

The Krumlov Festival takes place this year from July 12 to August 3. It offers more than 40 concerts in 13 different venues. Three of them are premieres. The star who already performed at the 33rd edition was Plácido Domingo. He sang the opera gala with two muses – soprano Serena Sáenz and mezzo-soprano Ester Pavlů. All with the Prague Philharmonic conducted by Tomáš Brauner. The opening concert of Smetana 200: Má vlast was in female hands for a change. Conductor Alena Hron led the Ostrava Janáček Philharmonic. And three of the symphonic poems – Vltava, Tábor and Blaník – were enriched by the performance of Les Ballets Bubeníček choreographed by Jiří Bubeníček. It will be possible to watch ballet performances at the end of the festival.

“We are at the Krumlov Festival for the second time and we really appreciate it. The festival is very famous, I think it is one of the biggest and best festivals in Europe. Being a part of this beautiful happening is a great joy for everyone,” says dancer and choreographer Jiří Bubeníček and adds: “In addition to the opening concert, I also conduct Bubeníček Ballet Masterclasses during the festival, the 2nd year of master classes for young dancers started this Monday. At the same time, some of the course participants will perform together with the soloists of the Croatian National Theater at the final concert of the entire 33rd Krumlov Festival, in Prokofiev’s adaptation of Romeo and Juliet.”

You can find out more about the plans of Jiří Bubeníček, who will celebrate a significant life anniversary this fall, from an interview with the Festival camera.

The main partners of the 33rd year are ČEPS and Porsche ČR, the official partners are Madeta, Reticulum and the Český Krumlov Development Fund. The festival takes place with the kind support of the Ministry of Culture of the Czech Republic, the South Bohemian Region, Český Krumlov and Kudyznudy.cz. Thanks go to them and all the other partners.

More information: www.festivalkrumlov.cz

Videos: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCaqY-K0c9k4kLpx_29IZ2jQ

Photo: Khalil Baalbaki, Czech Radio

Lukáš Krpálek, the current Olympic heavyweight judo champion since his victory in Tokyo in 2021, will be competing at the Olympic Games once again in a few days’ time. Aware of the high expectations surrounding him, the most successful judoka in the country’s history is trying to stay grounded as the tournament approaches.

Having returned from a final preparation camp in Japan, the country where he won the biggest title of his career three years ago, Lukáš Krpálek appeared serene in Prague on Thursday when receiving the outfit that he and the other members of the Czech Olympic delegation will wear during the Games’ opening ceremony in Paris this Friday.

See more here.

Author: Anna Fodor, Guillaume Narguet

Photo: Jana Strejčková, Czech Radio

Czechia’s westernmost region attracts visitors with its famous spas, historic towns and beautiful countryside. See how well you know the region in our quiz!

See more here.

The heads of state of Finland, Denmark, Slovenia, Latvia, Montenegro and Serbia will attend the Globsec security conference due to take place in Prague at the end of August and the beginning of September, the organisers announced on Wednesday.

The Slovak-based NGO Globsec, which is organising the event, announced in March that it would be moved from Bratislava to Prague, where it will take place under the patronage of President Petr Pavel. About 2,000 guests from more than 60 countries are expected to attend the conference.

According to Globsec founder and director Robert Vass, the move of the Globsec Forum from Slovakia to Prague is an opportunity for the country to become an important platform for international dialogue and to create a strong debate between different opinions in Europe.

Author: Ruth Fraňková

Photo: Z Metropole/Czech television

Prague’s fortification walls served as security barriers since the Middle Ages. Today, they are a testimony to the historical importance of the city.

The fortifications of Prague have evolved over the centuries, from early wooden and clay ramparts to the sophisticated brick walls from the era of Charles IV.

See more here.

Author: Ruth Fraňková

Photo: Khalil Baalbaki, Czech Radio

Yale historian Timothy Snyder was in Prague last week at the Plus and Václav Havel Library conference Borders of (Un)Freedom. The next day, he was interviewed by Czech Radio journalist Jan Bumba. They discussed topics ranging from the Republican nomination of Donald Trump as presidential candidate; how a Trump election might impact Europe and Russia’s war on Ukraine; and Snyder’s soon-to-be published book On Freedom. This is an edited version of that interview.

Professor Snyder, if I may start with what’s going on now in the United States.

See more here.

Author: Jakub Ferenčík