Approximately 1,000 Ukrainian refugees are leaving the Czech Republic every day, but still around 300,000 of the original 350,000 asylum seekers to arrive during the conflict in Ukraine remain in the country, according to Interior Minister Vít Rakušan.
Rakušan, who is also the country’s deputy prime minister, also revealed that a similar figure was still arriving in the country on a daily basis, and explained around half of the 50,000 that have departed the Czech Republic actually went home to Ukraine, with others traveling on to other countries, mostly Germany.
The Czech interior minister stated that 80-85 percent of refugees have stayed in Czechia while the numbers of arrivals and exits are balanced. It is, however, hard to ascertain an exact number of people leaving because the Czech Republic does not lie on the external Schengen border.
“If we now have the idea that 75-80 percent of people are in their places, then this is quite telling. We need to know the conditions of those who want to go to school. That is the most important thing,” commented Rakušan on the issue of obtaining more precise data.
“When enrolling in schools, we want to collect additional data, use it to maximize data collection, which will probably be the most decisive moment,” he added.
Rakušan expressed his hope that the European Commission will activate the registration system it promised, and vowed to meet with EU Commissioner Ylva Johansson.
The Czech deputy prime minister also said that the cooperation with Hungary concerning Roma refugees with dual citizenship has improved; about a third of these refugees have proven to be dual citizens of Ukraine and Hungary, and as such, they have no claim to temporary protection.
They are, however, EU citizens — they cannot be deported or otherwise moved, but they have no claim to social benefits either. Rakušan stated that the ministry is trying to inform these people of this fact.
The enduring appeal and attractiveness of the “golden nineties”, which seem to have kept the professional and wider cultural public, movers and shakers, and observers of the art scene interested to this day, is one of the reasons for creating the Heroin Crystal exhibition project.
As both a participant and witness, Olga Malá initiated, therefore, the Heroin Crystal exhibition, which maps the activities of the Prague City Gallery associated with artists of the 1990s generation in the years 1994–2002.
The exhibition is running until August 28th, 2022.
The period the exhibition focuses on is defined at the beginning of 1994, the first year of the Zvon ’94 Biennial of Young Art and at the end by its “institutional conclusion” in 2002, which saw the end of the long-term exhibition of artists of the 1990s generation, Contemporary Collection – Czech Art in the ’90s, that was featured in the basement of the Golden Ring House for four years (1998–2002).
At the same time, it is clear that the label “institutional conclusion” of the period needs to be understood only as a tentative term because the Prague City Gallery’s cooperation with artists of this generation has never been actually interrupted and continues in various forms to this day.
Milena Dopitová’s iconic installation Sixtysomething from 2003 (which will be also exhibited at the Stone Bell House) or the nostalgic exhibition Restaurant Near Hospital (Old Town Hall, 2002) by Michal Pěchouček, an artist whose work seems to be spanning between the 1990s and the next generation of the noughties, can be rather viewed as a symbolic end of the exhibition.
The title of the exhibition Heroin Crystal was inspired by Jiří Černický’s 1999 installation and photograph of the same name, which is characterized by its striking visuality with a disturbing subtext typical of the 1990s in general.
Heroin Crystal is a project that is primarily linked to the GHMP as an institution and does not have the ambition to evaluate the 1990s; it is not a survey that comprehensively examines the events of those years. It is a collective exhibition presenting works that have been exhibited and purchased by the Prague City Gallery continuously from the 1990s to the present.
It presents the works of fifteen artists who were partcipants in exhibitions we prepared in collaboration with Karel Srp between 1994 and 2002.
The Heroin Crystal exhibition, like the memorable first biennial in 1994, is aimed at a wider public, in whose cultural consciousness the work of artists of this generation may not yet be so strongly imprinted.
The exhibition is also associated with a certain educational aspect – there is already a generation of young people who have not yet had the opportunity to see with their own eyes the legendary sci-fi installation by Veronika Bromová On the Edge of the Horizon, as one example, as well as many other key works of the time.
The 15th-century astronomical clock is at the centre of an embarrassing row amid claims that an artist endowed it with likenesses of his friends and acquaintances in an expensive restoration project, possibly as a joke.
The unveiling of the reconstructed Old Town Clock took place in 2018 but it has only now come to light that the copy of Josef Mánes’ calendar, is a far cry from the original.
According to Milan Patka from the Club for Old Prague, some of the figures on the calendar have changed dramatically.
Now the artwork has been engulfed in controversy after a local heritage preservation group alleged that its painter, Stanislav Jirčík, had deviated from the spirit and detail of Mánes’ painting.
Discrepancies that initially passed unnoticed were belatedly brought to light after a member of the Club for Old Prague lodged a complaint with the Czech culture ministry, which has now launched an investigation.
In one depiction, intended to represent Virgo, the original of a girl with red hair and a distinctive ribbon is replaced with a middle-aged, modern-looking woman with grey or highlighted hair and an earring. In another instance, a smiling female Aquarius has been transformed into a man with short hair.
Jiřčík also changes Mánes’ original painting of a predominantly black dog to one with a brown and white coat and raised tail.
A cademic painter and restorer, he was even said to have presented some figures with likenesses of his friends, including Kateřina Tučková, an award-winning Czech novelist.
According to Deník N, which broke the story, the copy of the calendar has been criticized by restorers from the Institute of Art History of the Czech Academy of Sciences and a complaint filed by the Club for Old Prague is now being looked into by the National Heritage Inspectorate of the Ministry of Culture.
The inspectorate has requested documents from Prague City Hall, which owns the astronomical clock, and has refused to comment on the case until it has arrived at some conclusion.
The author of the copy, Stanislav Jirčík, who alone could explain what happened, has so far refused to comment on the case.
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On a visit to Stockholm on Thursday the Czech foreign minister, Jan Lipavský, said the Czech Republic fully supported Sweden and Finland in their plans to join NATO.
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Joint meetings of the Czech and Polish governments are set to take place in Prague on Friday next week, the Prague government announced. The main items on the agenda will be Russian aggression toward Ukraine, energy security and preparations for the Czech presidency of the European Union in the second half of this year.
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According to Eurostat, the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in the European Union was 6.2 percent in April, the same as in March. The Czech Republic continues to have the lowest unemployment rate, although it rose by a tenth of a percentage point to 2.4 percent.
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The German fashion retailer Orsay is leaving the Czech and Slovak markets. Last week, Forbes magazine reported the news, citing anonymous sources familiar with the situation. The company is expected to sell its Czech stores by the end of June and the Slovak ones even a month earlier.
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Bayer Leverkusen signed promising Czech striker Adam Hlozek from Sparta Prague on Thursday to form a potentially exciting partnership with compatriot Patrik Schick. The Bundesliga club said the 19-year-old Hlozek, who was reportedly also a target for Borussia Dortmund, had signed a contract through June 2017.
The expected Mattoni České Budějovice Half Marathon is here. The 10th anniversary race will take place this Saturday, June 4th.
It boasts a five-star certificate from the European Athletics and will bring, among else, an interesting duel between the leading Czech female runners Petra Pastorová and Eva Vrabcová Nývltová.
Vít Pavlišta, the men’s favorite, will also stand at the start line at the Přemysl Otakar II Square, together with thousands of other runners. “It has been ten years since the half marathon was held here for the first time. České Budějovice and its inhabitants have got used to this event and the city has always supported it significantly. I want to thank the organizers for the well done job and the people from the town hall for their cooperation,” the Mayor of České Budějovice Jiří Svoboda said at the press conference.
“In nine years we have brought 44,000 people to run in České Budějovice. The tenth edition of the Mattoni Half Marathon will be special and I am sure that everyone will enjoy it. There will be also a relay race, 2Run or the popular dm family run,” said the RunCzech regional race manager Igor Murko, adding that for the tenth anniversary every runner will receive an adidas T-shirt with a logo symbolizing the city’s landmarks.
A fast course, beautiful scenery, and a friendly atmosphere at every turn above all. The streets of the South Bohemian capital will be alive on Saturday. České Budějovice will turn into a running course with thousands of runners and fans.
The program will open the three-kilometer dm family run at 5 p.m., the Mattoni České Budějovice Half Marathon will start at 7 p.m.
The main favourite among the men is Vít Pavlišta who won the recent Mattoni Karlovy Vary Half Marathon. He will be challenged by Pavel Kubričan and Pavel Novák. Among the women, Petra Pastorová and Eva Vrabcová Nývltová will probably fight for the first place. The Czech Olympian will surely want to return the unexpected loss to Pastorova from the spa town where she finished even third.
The race is very beneficial for the city. According to the analysis prepared by CzechTourism, a state-funded organization, a total initiated consumption of CZK 20 million (EUR 800 000) was generated in 2019 in connection with the Mattoni Half Marathon České Budějovice race.
Approximately CZK 15 million (EUR 600 000) out of this sum was the visitors´ consumption (excluding the entry fee), and CZK 5 million (EUR 200 000) were the basic costs of the organization.
The total revenue in multiplication resulting from the Mattoni České Budějovice Half Marathon in 2019 was CZK 39 million (EUR 1 560 000), and the total public budget revenue amounted to CZK 8 million (EUR 320 000).
The race attracted 6.5 thousand people to the South Bohemian Region capital, of which 62% were local or from the same region, 34% from another region of the Czech Republic and 4% were foreigners.
The last free registrations are available at www.runczech.com.
The German low-cost airline Eurowings has expanded its summer flight schedule from its Prague base with an attractive holiday flight.
From June 2 to September 29, 2022, Eurowings will fly on a new seasonal flight from Prague to the Greek island of Mykonos.
The direct connection will be operated once every Thursday with departure from Prague at 14:00 and arrival at Mýkonos at 17:50.
The return flight will depart on the same day at 18:35 and land at Prague Airport at 20:35. In addition to the direct flight, Eurowings also offers connections on Sundays with a transfer in Cologne.
The cheapest return tickets are available for CZK 4998 only at the beginning of June. In July, return tickets starts from CZK 6998, at the end of August from CZK 5248.
Mykonos’ top things to do beyond the clubs
Hora
Mykonos’s main town is the perfect introduction to the island and life in a traditional, pedestrian-friendly, busy Greek port. Its narrow lanes get packed with people in high season. They weave past a kaleidoscope of high-end boutiques, crammed shops selling essentials, lively cafes and top restaurants you’ll want to return to at night.
After getting jostled on the main streets, pick an emptier angle and veer off into Hora’s quieter corners to fully appreciate the island’s vibe and get a fresh view on those picture-perfect windmills. The town’s small, so you’ll never get lost for long.
Panagia Paraportiani
Though the translated name may be mundane (‘Our Lady of the Side Gate’), everything else about this geometric church complex is extraordinary. Five separate chapels are linked by a dazzling white-washed exterior under a low dome. Look for the subtle differences of the four on the ground-level, then find the tiny stairs leading to the fifth. It’s a brilliant look at the opulent decor favored by the Greek Orthodox faith.
Windmills
Stars of countless selfies, the seven windmills silently overlooking Hora’s harbor are icons of the island and is one of Mykonos’ best easy hikes. Take the short walk up the small hill on which they perch and watch ferries arriving with ever-more holiday-makers. Stick around for one of the island’s best sunset views.
Aegean Maritime Museum
Greeks have plied the sea for millennia. Plunge into the history of Aegean seafaring at this compact museum just south of Hora’s touristy hub. Out in its quiet garden, grab the wheel of an old sailing ship and imagine you’re Odysseus navigating to return to far-off Ithaca. Inside, browse models that recall the battle scene in the galley in Spartacus and navigate all manner of nautical memorabilia from across the centuries.
Megali Ammos Beach
Ten minutes after you arrive on Mykonos you can dive into the gentle waters at this sandy cove just a quick walk south of the port. Tavernas offer beachside food and drink as well as loungers and gear for watersports. If you’re staying in one of the many surrounding hotels, this spectacular beach will be your front yard.
Paradise Beach
First among the string of south coast beaches, Paradise is the place to revel in everything Mykonos is known for: fine golden sand, alluring azure water, tavernas and clubs ready to cater to almost any whim and a pervasive feeling of carefree pleasure. In summer the fun only pauses for an hour or two around sunrise. It’s certainly the most famous beach in Mykonos and one of the best too.
Agios Sostis Beach
Partying crowds head to the south coast beaches, but the beach aficionados head to Agios Sostis for a quieter feel where its golden sand and blue water are the focus. The hours will roll past with barely a notice — rent a lounger and dine on Greek delicacies at the obliging taverna. If you feel the need for more of a buzz, adjoining Panormos Beach has daytime clubbing.
Ano Mera
Whether you’re hiking, biking or riding in a vehicle, the handful of tiny villages in Mykonos’s hilly interior are just a few minutes from Hora. Diminutive Ano Mera is notable for the white-washed Tourliani Monastery, which dates to the 16th century. Inside the domed church, you’ll discover gilded icons and historic artifacts. Afterwards, pause for a drink outside a village taverna.
Delos
At the top of Mykonos’s don’t miss list, the sacred and uninhabited island of Delos is barely 2km off the west coast. It’s the birthplace of the powerful twins of myth Apollo and Artemis, both fabled hunters, and holds the ruins of temples and treasuries. While you savor the rich archeological ruins of this once sprawling city, you can imagine the twins stalking the hills of the islet with their bows. In high season boats make the quick journey here from Hora several times daily.
It’s that time again. Head to the fields and pick your own strawberries in and around Prague.
Jams, strawberries with whipped cream and fruit dumplings. The strawberry season usually begins in early June, and Czechs like to go to plantations every year, where they can pick fresh strawberries themselves.
We all know that berries taste better when you’ve picked them yourself, perhaps due to the fact you get a bit of nature – or that the process of picking can be rather meditative (or did we just get a bit delirious from the sun last time we went?).
The season has officially begun, which means we now have at least two months of juicy red berries to enjoy.
The average price of this year’s self-picking ranges from 60 to 70 crowns per kilo. Here’s our roundup of where to pick your own strawberries in Berlin in 2022.
Prague
Jahody Kunratice | From 3rd to 7th June. Price: 62 Kč/kg |
Kunratické jahody – Václav Macháček | Dates and prices for 2022 are not yet listed. |
SCHWENK Jahody s.r.o. | Self-picking starts on June 3rd: Price: 80 Kč/kg |
Central Bohemian Region
Jahodárna Sedlčánky | Price: 69 Kč/kg |
Jahodárna Vraňany | Price: 70 Kč/kg |
Ovocné sady Bříství | Price: 79 Kč/kg |
Jahody Oskořínek | Price: 60 – 65 Kč/kg |
Starokolínské jahody | Price: 50 Kč/kg |
Jahodárna Kouřim | From June 4th: Price: 70 Kč/kg |
Berry servis, s.r.o. | From 6th to 12th June: Price: 69 Kč/kg |
Jahody Zdice u Berouna | Price: 60 Kč/kg |
Farmářská zelenina Luděk a Irena Bodlákovi | From June 3rd |
Jahodárna Lysá nad Labem | Price: 68 Kč/kg |
DoorDash, Inc. (NYSE: DASH) today announced that it has completed the acquisition of Wolt Enterprises Oy (“Wolt”) in an all-stock transaction, bringing DoorDash to a total of 26 countries outside of the United States.
Going forward, Wolt CEO Miki Kuusi will oversee the combined company’s team and operations outside the United States, reporting to DoorDash CEO Tony Xu.
Under Miki’s leadership, DoorDash aims to accelerate its international growth through faster product development and improved investment efficiency.
The Wolt consumer app will continue to run separately, supported by the resources of a global technology company. Wolt plans to maintain operations in all of the markets where it currently operates.
“DoorDash is at the beginning of a colossal journey, and I’m more excited than ever about what we’re building and the potential to help hundreds of millions of people across the globe in our mission to empower local economies,” said Tony Xu, DoorDash Co-Founder and CEO.
“Today marks the beginning of a new chapter for Wolt,” said Miki Kuusi, Wolt CEO and DoorDash Head of International, “By joining forces with DoorDash, we have an even greater ability to build delightful products and services across continents. Our two companies share a strong vision for local commerce, and working side by side, we can accomplish more for all our stakeholders.”
About DoorDash
DoorDash (NYSE: DASH) is a technology company that connects consumers with their favorite businesses. Founded in 2013, DoorDash enables local businesses to address consumers’ expectations of ease and immediacy and thrive in today’s convenience economy. By building the logistics infrastructure for local commerce, DoorDash is bringing communities closer, one doorstep at a time.
About Wolt
Wolt is a Helsinki-based technology company that makes it incredibly easy to discover and get the best restaurants, grocery stores and other local shops delivered to you. To enable this, Wolt develops a wide range of technologies from local logistics to retail software and financial solutions, as well as operates its own grocery stores under the brand Wolt Market.
Wolt was founded in 2014 and joined forces with DoorDash in 2022. DoorDash operates in 27 countries today, 23 of which are with the Wolt product and brand.
A fire broke out Wednesday evening at a nursing home that takes care of people suffering from Alzheimer disease in the Czech Republic, injuring more than 50.
The regional rescue service said ladders were used to evacuate 56 patients from the home in Roztoky, a town just north of Prague. A total of 54 were injured, the rescuers said.
“Firefighters, unfortunately, found two people dead,” said a spokeswoman for the Central Bohemian rescue service. “Two people are in critical condition, other two have moderate injuries, 51 minor injuries,” said Monika Nováková, a spokeswoman for the Central Bohemian Rescue Medical Service.
Nearly 100 firefighters were deployed to extinguish the fire and evacuate the home’s clients.
The fire broke out on Wednesday evening. At around 4 am on Thursday morning, firefighters managed to get the blaze under control.
According to a very rough preliminary estimate, the fire caused about CZK 70 million of damage. The cause of the fire is not yet known.
Hasební práce probíhají v ulici Nádražní, policisté na místě uzavřeli všechny přilehlé ulice a umožňují průjezd pouze vozidlům IZS. Provoz v bezprostředním okolí je omezen, dbejte prosím pokynů policistů. #policiestc https://t.co/JgjvgU1NKx
— Policie ČR (@PolicieCZ) June 1, 2022
Rescue operation
Photos showed flames coming from the attic of the building. The residents had to be rescued from their rooms through windows using ladders. Several were bedridden or not mobile.
Rescue forces were on the scene with a large contingent, including two helicopters and a large-capacity ambulance.
According to its website, the nursing home specialises in the care of dementia patients, including those with Alzheimer’s disease.
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The Prague City Hall will close the assistance centre for Ukrainian refugees in Vysocany as of June 15 due to the capital being overburdened and the lacking system of the relocation of refugees to other regions with vacant capacities.
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The Czech Republic’s most influential woman is EC Vice-President Vera Jourova. Prague High Prosecutor Lenka Bradacova is the second most influential, followed by Renata Kellnerova, the widow of the PPF group owner Petr Kellner, according to the Forbes magazine’s rating released on Wednesday.
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The sixth case of monkeypox in the Czech Republic has been confirmed in Prague, the Czech News Agency reported on Wednesday. The person in question is an EU citizen aged 34 who is currently in isolation.
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PM Petr Fiala will meet with French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris next Tuesday and with Pope Francis in the Vatican next Thursday. In Paris, the topics for discussion will be the EU presidency, which the Czech Republic is taking over from France, and nuclear energy. With the Pope, Fiala will discuss current international issues and Czech aid to Ukraine.
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The Prague transport company DPP will continue to allow Ukrainian refugees to use its public transport network for free until 12 June, the news site Novinky reported.
The family of State Duma deputy Vladimir Resin, who had been first deputy to Mayor of Moscow Yuri Luzhkov for 20 years, owns 13 apartments in Prague worth over 100 million crowns, Czech Television reports citing the Office of Financial Analysis of the Czech Ministry of Finance.
The politician’s family bought the last two apartments in March 2022, after the start of the war in Ukraine.
«All the apartments are located in a newly built complex in Zličín. They are registered to Contract Services, a company managed by Resin’s grandson, who has permanent residency Israel. Resin’s daughter and son-in-law control all of his assets. The company also owns a three hundred square meter apartment in Vršovice, where its head office is located. However, according to neighbors, the owners rarely visit the place,» the report says.
Resin supervised the construction sector in Moscow throughout Luzhkov’s mayoral term. Architectural critic of the Kommersant newspaper Grigory Revzin described Resin’s outlook as follows: «In 2000, I went on a gondola ride with Resin in Venice, and he said: »Look, the masonry is crumbling, if only they let Mospromstroy do business here, we would build a modern city.»
After Luzhkov’s resignation «due to loss of confidence» in September 2010, Resin worked for a month as acting mayor of Moscow. Under the new mayor Sergei Sobyanin Resin remained in his old position – first deputy mayor for construction – for another year. After that, Resin was elected to the State Duma.
The Anti-Corruption Foundation (ACF) posted a video about Resin’s real estate in Prague in the fall of 2021. »The 11 apartments owned by Resin’s family in Prague were worth 147 million rubles at the time of purchase,» the investigators said.
The Czech authorities became interested in the property owned by Resin and other people included in the sanctions lists, after the start of the war in Ukraine.
The Czech Republic is already preparing new laws that would allow for the confiscation of property from sanctioned Russians, according to Czech Television. It is also a demand made by Ukraine.
«Freezing all Russian assets is a way to create a special fund to restore the Ukrainian economy, this is a way to help us,» the TV channel quoted Maria Kovakova, a Ukrainian government expert on European integration, as saying.
On May 27, Leonid Slutsky was appointed the new head of the LDPR party. Meduza reported in 2018 that «Leonid Slutsky’s career is linked» to Resin.
«Their close relationship generated rumors in the Duma that Slutsky is Resin’s illegitimate son. According to an acquaintance, the deputy doesn’t talk about his father even with members of his inner circle, but calls Resin »daddy» in private conversations,» the investigators say.
On July 1, the Czech Republic will take over the six-month presidency of the EU Council, and the motto “Europe as a task” will then replace the current “We will sweeten it for Europe.”
What the task is, the government has not yet revealed. In an interview with Czech news outlet Deník N, Minister for European Affairs Mikuláš Bek said that the Czech ambition for Ukraine is for the war-torn nation to become an EU candidate country.
According to Bek, there is a second part to the new motto that will be released as a surprise on June 15. What is not surprising is the main task of the Czech presidency: confronting Russia’s aggression against Ukraine. The fallout from the invasion will likely continue to accelerate as debates surrounding the issue start turning into concrete proposals.
“We want the process of Ukraine’s rapprochement with the European Union to move forward. I cannot say how realistic it is that the European Council will be able to reach an agreement in June on granting candidate status. I would very much like that, but there is still a certain divergence of views. If that does not happen in June, we will do everything we can to make it happen during our presidency,” stated Bek, adding that giving Ukraine a candidate status could be a cherry on top of the Czech presidency.
Other countries with the candidate status, like Moldavia or Georgie, will participate in the talks too. Bek stresses that each country has its own, specific trajectory.
V4 is not a group of same-minded countries
Energy security will be a crucial issue. The main task will be to ensure fairness and solidarity in the case of Russia stopping deliveries. While a solidarity mechanism will likely not be needed for oil, it would be necessary for gas.
Bek said that the European Commission should be the coordinator in such a case. Czechia will also prioritize innovation and competitiveness for the sake of the resilience of the European economy.
The next priority of the presidency should be the strengthening of the European defense and cyber defense. This task lies in the purview of the EU’s top diplomat, Josep Borrell, but according to Bek, there is plenty of space for talks about shared purchases and eventually even shared military units.
Bek dodged the question regarding the potential vote against Hungary over the EU’s new rule-of-law mechanism, claiming that there will be a governmental debate as the decision could have massive consequences. Bek also said that the V4 is more a communication platform than a group of same-minded countries.