If your day doesn’t start until you’re up to speed on the latest headlines, then let us introduce you to our new morning fix.
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The Czech Senate has called on the European Union states to grant EU candidate country status to Ukraine at the upcoming summit of EU leaders. According to Zelenskiy, the step would enhance the European community and reflect the European ideas and values. The EU summit is scheduled for June 22-23.
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Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky on Wednesday said he will visit Ukraine in July to show the Czech support to the war-afflicted country, meet his Ukrainian counterpart Dmytro Kuleba and discuss further possibilities of aid.
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Prague Deputy Mayor Petr Hlubuček and businessman Michal Redl are among the 11 people accused of corruption and mismanagement of the Prague public transport company DPP. Mr. Redl also faces charges of illegal substance abuse.
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According to preliminary figures from the Czech Statistical Office (CZSO), the population of the Czech Republic grew by 3,200 to 10.52 million in the first quarter of the year. This increase was only due to the effect of foreign immigration (+10,800), as the natural population decreased by 7,600.
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The well-known Czech illustrator and graphic designer Pavel Sukdolák has died at the age of 96, the Czech News Agency reported. Sukdolák was considered one of the main representatives of Czech post-war graphic design.
The president of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, spoke this morning (Wednesday, June 15) to both houses of the Czech Parliament via video.
Zelenskyy reminded Czechs of historical parallels between Czechia and Ukraine, evoking the years 1938, 1948 and 1968 as well as famous mottos such as “We’re with you, be with us” and “Truth and love must prevail over lies and hatred”.
He also addressed the importance of the Czech Republic’s EU presidency in relation to the possibility of Ukraine’s candidacy status and more sanctions against Russia.
According to him, the Czech Republic can participate in the renewal of Ukraine for example by taking patronage over Ukrainian regions.
“Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is only the first step in paving the way for other states. (…) Not only Russian propagandists, but also senior state officials talk openly about it,” he said. Leaving the territory to Russia would not resolve the situation. “He who wants to seize everything will never stop,” he said.
Zelenskyy spoke also about Ukraine’s ambition to become a candidate country of the European Union. “Granting Ukraine candidate status means proving that the European Community is real, that European values work and are not just empty words in several documents”. Ukraine applied to join the EU in March shortly after being attacked by Russian troops on February 24, but the process of being granted membership can take years.
In connection with the forthcoming Czech Presidency of the Council of the EU, he also called for the adoption of another package of anti-Russian sanctions.
Mr. Zelenskyy has spoken to many countries’ legislatures since Russia launched a war on his country.
Czech Senate approves tighter rules for providing support to Ukrainian refugees
The Senate almost unanimously approved tighter rules for the distribution of humanitarian support to refugees from Ukraine on Wednesday.
The changes, which include an end to the CZK 5000 humanitarian benefit for refugees with free accommodation, food and basic hygiene products, are intended to prevent so-called ‘benefit tourism’.
Other changes include benefits being linked to permanent residence in the Czech Republic, and the time for which the state will cover health insurance for refugees being limited to a maximum of 150 days, with the exception of children and the elderly.
The draft now awaits being signed into law by the President.
Following the success of the yearly Prague Beer Fest, Permanent Pragovka is launching a new festival this next week dedicated exclusively to sour beers.
This smaller, more intimate festival promises guests a large selection of 9 sours, including an Ale, a Weiss, and a lambic beer.
The variety is remarkable and offers beers otherwise difficult to find in Prague. Combined with the atmosphere, this festival will not be one to miss.
Permanent Pragovka is a craft beer bar and garden located in Pragovka, the formerly industrial neighborhood in Prague 9 that has seen a massive revitalization as of late into one of Prague’s most happying artsy neighborhoods.
The bar–which has served a vital role in the rebirth of the district–was opened more than 4 years ago and has been providing the community with events dedicated to beer ever since.
The bar itself is contained within one of two shipping containers, with the other featuring a grill offering new takes on traditional Czech and American fare, with burgers, fries, sausages, and more.
Other than its beer selection, Permanent Pragovka is famous for its huge burgers that pair perfectly with any draft beer. The bar–beyond the specific offerings of the festival–has 12 taps, mostly featuring local Czech craft beers alongside a few imports.
The ambience is top-notch–right next door to the Pragovka Art District, there is plenty of public art to enjoy and beautiful murals right on site.
It’s hard not to be reminded of the post-industrial bars cities like Berlin and Budapest are so famous for. Moreover, while not in the center of town, it is right next to the Kolbenova metro stop so getting there should not be an issue.
While you’re there, the neighborhood is worth exploring–it will inevitably begin attracting tourists soon enough. The Sour Beer Fest is happening on June 22 through June 23rd and is sure to be a big hit.
“We want free public transport in Prague”, the opposition claims. “It is just a pre-election move”, the city management replies.
The chairman of ANO Party, Ondřej Prokop, came up with a controversial proposal for free public transport in Prague until the end of 2022.
Prokop argued that public transport in Prague is still not full after the coronavirus epidemic and that many cars run empty or half-empty, and Prague residents need to be positively motivated to use public transport.
The second argument is Prokop’s claim that the people of Prague are facing an energy and inflationary crisis.
“As the economic situation is deteriorating significantly, many Praguers are falling into poverty, and public transport is still not full, we will propose public transport completely free of charge until the end of 2022,” Prokop wrote in a report to journalists.
“Of course, we understand the difficult situation of citizens in these times, but this must be addressed through targeted assistance and not wasteful budgeting. At the same time, it is important to maintain the quality of Prague’s public transport. Frequent connections, building new tram lines, metro lines, electrifying bus lines, buying new modern vehicles and we can only ensure this thanks to fare money,” said Adam Scheinherr, Prague deputy mayor of Transport.
Another representative of the ANO movement, Patrik Nacher, also commented on Prokop’s proposal. “This type of completely extraordinary and time-limited measure has a motivating effect, sends positive signals and also has an anti-inflationary effect”.
European cities with free-fare transport
Following a referendum in 2013, the inhabitants of Tallinn (Estonia’s capital) voted overwhelmingly in favour of free public transportation. The problem in Tallinn can be compared to the problem in Luxembourg City: thousands of commuters travel to the city centre every day.
Plus, many people with low incomes struggled to pay. The system has been functioning without any major hitches for almost a decade now, even if analysts say it hasn’t led to a reduction in private cars on the streets.
In the French city of Dunkirk, steps to provide free buses and trains, however, did lead to less traffic. Since 2018, residents can travel on public transport for free.
Aubagne (also in France) was a pioneer in implementing the first free tram network in the world, and public transport has been free there since 2009. Seen at first as a simple test, the initiative turned out to be a great success. After three years, there were 5,000 fewer cars driving around the city every day, a decrease of 10 per cent. The popularity of public transport also rose by 235 per cent.
Cascais is, so far, the only municipality in Portugal to have opted for free-fare public transit.
Anyone who has heard of Livigno is probably also an avid skier. This village in the Italian Alps offers its public transport free of charge from 7:30 in the morning until 20:00 in the evening. The town is very clear to its visitors: nobody needs a car to discover it and this sure sounds like a good way to stand out among winter destinations.
Since the 1st of January 2018, public transport in the city centre of Czech Strakonice (South Bohemia) has also been completely free.
Since 2011, people can use free public transportation in Frýdek-Místek, a town in the east of the Czech Republic. The number of passengers increased by as much as 40 per cent during the first two years.
The regional expansion aspect of zero-fare services has also been introduced in parts of the Lower Silesia region in Poland. Free transport exists in Polkowice, an industrial city of 22,000 inhabitants, and in some agglomerations of its canton, in Lubin and throughout its canton and in some agglomerations of the canton of Legnica, an industrial city with 100,000 inhabitants.
The Mattoni Olomouc Half Marathon 2022 starts already this Saturday, 18 June, at 7 p.m. However, it is not just about sport and individual performances.
The whole event also has a positive economic impact on the city and the region. The popular sport event will bring nearly tens of millions of Czech crowns in initiated consumption or in multiplier sales for the region.
Thousands of athletes and their companions can also be expected on Saturday when the next edition of this popular race kicks off. “Mattoni Olomouc Half Marathon is running for the twelfth time this year. We are very pleased that we are welcomed in Olomouc and that we can organize the most prestigious race here in Moravia,” said Carlo Capalbo, President of the RunCzech Organizing Committee.
The Mattoni Olomouc Half Marathon will welcome not only runners but also tourists. For example, in 2019, 10,000 runners participated in the race, and another 20,000 people came to visit Olomouc. Out of these, 52% were local or from the same region, 43% from other regions of the Czech Republic, and the remaining four percent from abroad.
On average, people stayed in the city for 1.2 days and each visitor spent CZK 638 per day. The total amount spent by all visitors is approximately CZK 26 million. “It’s always a big event for the city itself. I am glad that I will also be a part of this exceptional sports event, because I will participate in dm family run with my whole family,” said Miroslav Žbánek, Mayor of City of Olomouc.
The organization of the half marathon also contributed a significant amount to the public budget, where the total income reached 13 million crowns. “The organizing of running events is important. It brings millions to the region. Also this event presents sport and a healthy lifestyle,” said Michal Zácha, Deputy Governor of the Olomouc Region. “I am especially grateful for the dm family run, as the pandemic period has had a negative impact on children,” Zácha added.
Part of the sports weekend will also be the Moravia Sport Expo. “The whole area of the exhibition centre will be full of sport activities. We are preparing the largest sports expo in the country. Friday and Saturday will be mainly about the half marathon, but people can also look forward to a rich accompanying program for children,” said Eva Fuglíčková, director of the Flora Olomouc Exhibition Centre. “RunCzech supports sport activities for children and youth throughout the year within other races as well,” added Tomáš Mirovský, RunCzech race coordinator.
“Our army is not in great condition either,” said Czech Republic’s former PM while arguing against more military aid to Ukraine.
Former Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš has spoken out against arms supplies to Ukraine, arguing that the Czech army is in poor shape and that Ukraine has already managed to defend against Russia occupying the country’s entire territory.
The politician, who is considering running for president, said that other countries should contribute with weapons aid instead of Czechia.
“I do not think we should continue to supply weapons. We supplied weapons, and we stopped Putin. He wanted to occupy the whole of Ukraine, thankfully he failed. And now, I think that Europe is helping Ukraine. Many countries are helping there. We have already delivered €3.5 billion [in aid], and our army is not in great condition either,” said the former prime minister and head of the ANO party at a meeting with people in Terezín, according to Respekt weekly.
One-fifth of Ukrainian territory and a large part of the civilian population now live under Russian occupation. It is impossible to determine whether war crimes are taking place in the occupation zone either.
Ukrainians also point out that the weapons deliveries have been insufficient. The Russians have stopped pursuing large-scale air and tank attacks, which Ukrainians have effectively fought off using light weapons.
The battle in the Donbas is now in a critical phase in which artillery plays a major role. In virtually every conversation, Ukrainian officials emphasize that weapons are still needed.
Due to the amount of aid provided, the Czech Republic is one of Ukraine’s largest supporters.
The Czech Republic supplied Ukraine with many weapons from its mobilization reserves, including tanks, rocket launchers, artillery ammunition, and likely helicopters, although that last item has not been officially announced.
Are you looking for some new places to eat? Here is a list of newly opened businesses.
The love of baking and the desire for change led Dáša, the owner of Sugar MaMa to open her own sweet shop. The Prague 8 establishment offers everything from French pinwheels with almond caramel to Moravian cakes and donuts. You can also buy tartlets, wreaths, punches or even pistachio sandwiches.
While the shop offers a cozy, chic interior, patrons can also take their purchases to nearby Jiřího z Poděbrad Square and enjoy them there. If healthy food is more your style, Sugar MaMa also offers homemade cut granola, in addition to non-food offerings such as flowers or wine.
Čep a Pec – there could not be a more fitting name for the recent Nusle establishment, which offers high-quality beer z Čepu (from the tap) and good food z Pece (from the oven). The family-run business seeks not only to improve the public space but above all to show off the offerings from their own Four Elements Flying Brewery.
They have seven taps on the tap – you will find Budvar 33, Malostranská 11 from their own mini-brewery or Nuselský Sokolík on them. Soon, their beer special Connection will be on tap, which honors their connection with Nusle and the people who helped create the business.
For now, you can enjoy their welcoming, comfortable environment as you can eat camembert – pickled or grilled – and other delicious offerings with their house beer. And from the oven: cakes, baguettes and baked sandwiches. In the future, the owners will hold beer tastings and other events, so keep an eye out!
Recently opened restaurant Wood & Steak, located conveniently in Prague 2, is doing steak like no one has ever done it before. Here, you can enjoy delectably aged beef steaks, kept in perfect condition by means of a specially installed fridge.
Appetizers like beef tartare and sides like sweet potato puree with nuts or grilled vegetables complement the main attraction: mouth-watering rib eye, t-bone or rump steaks. Other meat options include veal fillet, sous vide ribs or stewed beef calf. On the drinks side, the restaurant has a wide selection of beers and liquors.
One of Prague’s newest bars in Veni, Vidi, Vici. Opened by three hotel students, and located in the lobby of the Ceasar Hotel, guests can expect good drinks and ambiance. Specialties of the bar include Daiquiris, Coari Coffee, and a rotating cocktail of the day.
The Na Břehu Rhôny winery has opened a new branch in Maltézské náměstí. While still in a testing phase, the branch will soon open full-time and at full capacity. The interior provides the atmosphere of an authentic French wine cellar, with high-quality vintages to match.
Outside, there is seating in both the garden courtyard and looking out onto Maltézské náměstí. And what pairs better with good wine than good food? Na Břehu Rhôny’s kitchen serves French tapas, such as snails, oysters, and French cheeses and sausages.
Grom Gelato in Wenceslas Square, home to authentic Italian gelatos, sorbets, and other cold and hot treats, has opened up a new branch in Mánes. Place your order ahead or time or in-store, and walk along the Prague embankment while you enjoy it. If you’re not sure what to get, salted caramel, pistachio, and chocolate are a few of our recommendations.
If your day doesn’t start until you’re up to speed on the latest headlines, then let us introduce you to our new morning fix.
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Further supplies of arms and ammunition to Ukraine will lead to an extension of the conflict, junior opposition Freedom and Direct Democracy (SPD) MP Jaroslav Basta told media today, adding that as regards the fightings in Ukraine, the SPD prefers a peace solution via diplomatic negotiations. The Czech cabinet, on its part, considers it important for Prague to continue providing political, military as well as humanitarian aid to Ukraine.
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Mainly marijuana, but also LSD and magic mushrooms are used excessively in the Czech Republic, which has the highest share of methamphetamine risk users in the EU (4.8 per 1,000 people). The information was published by the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA).
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Prague Mayor Zdenek Hrib will insist on the creation of the system for the relocation of refugees to other regions with vacant capacities at his Friday talks with PM Petr Fiala. There is still a possibility to motivate refugees to move to other regions by lowering their financial support in overloaded regions, Hrib added.
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The Karlovy Vary International Film Festival has released a list of the 35 works in progress that are set to feature in the Eastern Promises presentation at this year’s edition. It will include several uncompleted works by Ukrainian directors as part of cooperation with the Odessa International Film Festival.
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The well-known Czech illustrator and graphic designer Pavel Sukdolák has died at the age of 96, the Czech News Agency reported. Sukdolák was considered one of the main representatives of Czech post-war graphic design.
Pivo Na Naplavce (Beer at Náplavka) festival combines two of our favorite things about Prague. Spend the weekend hanging out by the river and trying some of the Czech Republic’s best microbrews.
The traditional festival of 50 micro and mini-breweries, which will take place this year on the Rašínovo embankment in Prague 2.
This is the tenth anniversary of the event. The festival will take place on Friday the 17th and Saturday the 18th of June. It will present also beer-pairing gastronomy and live music.
Admission to the Pivo Na Naplavce festival and the accompanying cultural program will be free, but the condition for beer tasting will be the purchase of our 0.3L glass mug.
“We expect around 4,000 people this year,” said Jiří Sedláček, director of the Pivo Na Naplavce festival.
“Visitors can look forwarded to 15 food stalls which will serve different food. There will be burger stalls, various grilled meat delicacies, Belgian fries, Balkan specialties, artisanal pizza, quality Czech sausages, French sausages, burgundy snails, cheese balls and, in addition, quality coffee,” added Sedláček.
Together with the festival tasting card and pencil, it will cost CZK 100. The mug can be reused on both days of the festival. Beer can be drunk exclusively from tasting glasses.
The organizers are trying to avoid unnecessary waste in the form of plastic cups, and in addition, beer from the glass tastes better. However, visitors to the festival will not see the classic pints.
“Pivo Na Naplavce is a tasting festival, so stands will serve a maximum of one-third. The condition for beer consumption is the purchase of a tasting set, which consists of a festival glass jug with a volume of 0.3 l, a tasting card and a pencil. The set will cost 100 crowns, seniors will have it available for 70 crowns and it will be usable for both days of the festival. In addition to those offered by individual breweries, you will also be able to get souvenirs with the festival beer logo,” Sedláček described.
The festival also includes a vote for the most popular mini-brewery.
As the temperature outside skyrockets, people are beginning to look to spend time in and around water. However, visitors to the swimming pools will have to dig deeper into their pockets than ever before.
A relentless wave of price increases has hit. PrahaIN.cz has been looking into the price increase–as well as people’s preferences for pools in and around Prague.
“Due to higher operating costs, we had to raise prices by about 10 to 15 percent. Everything is simply more expensive today,” the operator of the Divoká Šárka swimming pool said.
Here, an adult visitor pays 150 crowns, children from 5 to 15 years 60 crowns, students under 26 years, seniors from 65 years and ZTP pay 120 crowns. For a season ticket, you have to cough up 3,000 crowns. Ticket prices have also risen in Prague’s Petynka Swimming Pool.
“Yes, we had to raise prices. Basically because of inflation, but also for other reasons. Specifically, by 15 to 20 percent, depending on the type of entrance fee,” said the local operations manager Petr Šimánek.
The all-day entrance fee here costs 180 crowns, the family entrance fee (1 adult + 1 child) costs 250 crowns, and the family entrance fee (2 adults + 1 child) costs 330 crowns. Some pools blamed the increase on other factors: “Admission is more expensive this year. We had to take into account higher operating expenses,” an employee of Areál Pražačka told our editorial office.
You can buy a basic all-day ticket for 180 crowns. From 10 am to 3 pm for 140 crowns, admission after 4 pm also costs 140 crowns, an hour’s stay at the swimming pool is 100 crowns, a two-hour stay for 120 crowns. A family ticket (1 + 1) costs 280 crowns, two adults and one child pay 400 crowns.
The current trend is also confirmed by the operator of Koupaliště Stírka. “Yes, I can say that we have been forced to raise the price of admission, due to rising energy costs. On average, it is about 10 to 20 crowns per ticket. However, we have left a compromise entrance fee for season tickets, which means that the price from last year remains with visitors when it is purchased.”
Adults on Stírka pay 180 crowns. Children up to 160 cm and ZTP pay 120 crowns. Students under 26 years of age and seniors from 65 years of age cost 130 crowns and family admission (2 adults + 2 children up to 160 cm) costs 450 crowns.
Because of these price hikes, and a general spirit of adventure, people have been getting creative about finding places to swim–and those with their own private pools can count themselves lucky. “I haven’t been to the pool or the pond yet. Fortunately, we have a swimming pool in the garden, so I can swim there. Otherwise, I have no problem with the swimming pool, but if you have a swimming pool at home, you are a little lazy,” says Martin Bartko, a mother on parental leave.
Prague businesswoman Jana Stránská also prefers her own swimming pool. “I refresh myself most often in our pool. I don’t go to the swimming pool much.”
“I prefer to be in my parents’ pool. There are a lot of people at the swimming pool, which I don’t have to,” says photographer Romana Gritzerová.
An exception is the Prague artist Monika Sekavová. “I always try to go to the sea in the summer. But if I’m in the Czech Republic, I tend to go to the swimming pool, because I don’t have a car and natural swimming is less accessible for me.”
A wealthy woman of the Bronze Age has been all but reborn thanks to scientists in the Czech Republic.
The woman, who lived about 4000 years ago, was discovered in a grave in the Czech village of Mikulovice, near the Polish border. She was buried with rich grave goods, including hundreds of amber beads and bronze sewing needles.
The woman’s body was well-preserved enough that scientists were able to obtain DNA samples from her remains.
This was used to help recreate her features, with anthropologist Eva Vanickova of the Moravian Museum in Brno teaming with a sculptor, Ondrej Bilek, to create the model of the woman.
Her identity is unknown, but she was clearly a wealthy woman, according to Michal Ernee of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic.
“It’s maybe the richest female grave from the whole Unetice cultural region,” Ernee told Live Science.
The Unetice were an influential culture of the Bronze Age. Artifacts traced back to that culture have been found everywhere from Ireland to the Balkans.
This year, for the first time, the flagship educational project Fireflies of the Czech Radio Endowment Fund will open its doors to the guests of Café POTMĚ, in Náměstí Míru in Prague.
From June 22 to July 3, Praguers will be able to enjoy the lively café bustle and authentic atmosphere while sitting in complete darkness in the company of blind and partially sighted cafe-goers.
The goal of the program is to introduce sighted guests to the world of the blind, giving them an opportunity to step into the shoes of a blind person. Guests can enjoy, among other things, musical performances, wine tastings and live broadcasts by Czech Radio stations.
In the café, customers can look forward to professional service from visually impaired staff, who will be happy to present a piece of their everyday world. Upon arrival, visitors will be welcomed and provided with the necessary instructions, then they will be turned over to guides, who will take them to the table and hand them over to their waiter.
The cafe was designed by Adéla Bačová from KOMA MODULAR, a Czech modular design firm, and the interiors were provided by IKEA.
On the opening day of Café POTMĚ (June 22), visitors can also enjoy performances by the children’s choir of the Jaroslav Ježek School and also Bár’s Bar Band, which is composed of current and former employees of Czech Radio.
On June 24 there will be another musical performance under the baton of singer Elis Mraz. The café owners will also have a special program ready for the last school day on June 30. – Kaufland refreshments will be available for schoolchildren in the morning, and an episode of Radio Junior will also broadcast live from the venue. Later that evening, there will be a wine tasting in the cafe featuring vintages from the Mikrosvín Mikulov winery.
Café POTMĚ in Prague
Admission to Café POTMĚ is 180 Kč. Tickets can be purchased on site or in advance. The café opening will be on June 22 at 2 p.m. Operating hours are every day from 9 am to 8 pm with a lunch break from 1:30 pm to 2 pm.
Proceeds from the tickets sold will go to the Světluška public collection and will help visually impaired children and adults throughout the Czech Republic to live life fully and independently.
After Prague, the program will hit the road, heading to Uherské Hradiště, Olomouc, Brno and Jihlava.