“These barriers are a necessary and current first step. Ukraine has already received a decision from President Zelenskiy about the renewal of the destroyed areas and building new housing and infrastructure,” he added.
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The number of Russian and Belarusian holders of the Czech humanitarian visas has significantly increased since the beginning of the Russian invasion of Ukraine and mainly human rights advocates, independent journalists and activists receive the visas, Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky said today.
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Prague will strip Soviet Marshal Ivan Konev of its honorary citizenship due to some of his problematic acts, such as the bombing of Mlada Boleslav, central Bohemia, after WW2 and the suppression of the 1956 protests in Hungary, the Prague Council approved today. The Prague City Assembly is yet to debate the proposal and make the final decision.
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There were 59 new Covid-19 cases per 100,000 inhabitants in the Czech Republic reported last week, and only 126 cases on Sunday, the least since August 2021. Weekends are always lower in numbers as the number of tests is also lower.
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The Czech Republic’s foreign trade balance saw a deficit of CZK 13.8 billion in March, a drop by CZK 30.5 billion crowns year-on-year, according to data published by the Czech Statistics Office.
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Unemployment in the Czech Republic fell by one tenth of a percentage point month-on-month to 3.3 percent in April. Nearly 244,000 people were out of work last month, according to official data released on Monday.
Unemployment in the Czech Republic fell by one-tenth of a percentage point month-on-month to 3.3 percent in April.
The exact unemployment rate in the Czech Republic varies due to different metrics and classifications, but nonetheless is still one of the lowest on the continent.
The latest estimate from the Czech Statistical Office, which counts labor-force sample surveys, put unemployment at 3.3 percent in April.
The number of unemployed people across the EU is falling — down from 7.5% in January 2021 to nearly 6.2% in January 2022 — as economies recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.
A spokesperson for the Czech Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs said the unemployment rate is indeed “very low” and no significant changes are expected in the near future.
“At the same time, however, we have hundreds of thousands of available jobs,” the spokesperson said. “People who want to work can still find a suitable job in the Czech Republic.”
Over 344,000 jobs were offered by employers in the Czech Republic in April, which was a fall of roughly 16,000 in March.
Nearly 244,000 people were out of work last month, according to official data released on Monday.
Europe
The eurozone unemployment rate was 6.8% in March, down from 6.9% previous month and 8.2% in March 2021, Eurostat said,
According to official figures on Tuesday, the unemployment rate in the EU was 6.2%, down from 6.3% in February 2022 and 7.5% in March 2021.
Around 13.4 million men and women in the 27-member union were unemployed, of whom 11.3 million were in the eurozone in March.
The youth unemployment rate was 13.9% both in the EU and the eurozone in the same month, down from 14% in February.
Eurostat added that the unemployment rate for women was 6.6% in the EU and 7.2% in the euro area.
ICE Industrial Services, a Czech company, has started to build 3D printers for concrete barriers and is going to send both barriers and printers to the Ukrainian Army.
As Novinky.cz reported on Monday, the barriers are resistant to small arms, grenades, and anti-tank missiles. This was confirmed by tests at the NATO ballistic centre.
The printing of one barrier takes 20 minutes. About 24 hours are necessary to harden the concrete.
The company plans to transfer about 20-30 of its 3D printers to Ukraine so that the army can print trench fortifications, barricades, or booths for checkpoints. If necessary, finished blocks can be used as parts of the constructor for more complex designs.
Specifically, by filling the gaps between walls with a combination of sand and tunable sandwich structures, the firm has found it possible to provide them with different degrees of reinforcement. While these structures are still undergoing ballistic testing, and Vránek admits they wouldn’t survive heavy artillery fire, he maintains that they’ve shown promise, particularly in resisting machine gunfire.
“We are negotiating with representatives of the Ukrainian government about the delivery of the first printer in order to teach local specialists how to handle it. We have already identified specific locations where to send the printers. Some of them will be installed in concrete plants, which are already involved in defense production. They should be as close as possible to the battlefield, but, of course, in some relatively safe zone”, the executive director of firm Tomas Vranek said Novinky.
Summer weather can be expected around the Czech Republic especially in the middle of the week. Temperatures in some cities will reach up to 29 degrees Celsius.
Monday will be partly cloudy. Maximum temperatures will range between 19 and 23 degrees Celsius, at altitudes above 1,000 metres around 14 degrees Celsius. It will be clear and partly cloudy at night on Tuesday, with the lowest temperatures dropping to 9-5 degrees Celsius.
Tuesday will be mostly clear. Maximum daytime temperatures will go up to 25 degrees Celsius.
It will also be partly cloudy on Wednesday. The lowest night temperatures will be between 13 and 9 °C. During the day the temperature can rise up to 28 degrees Celsius.
Thursday will be partly cloudy. Night temperatures will be above ten degrees Celsius. The highest daytime temperatures will reach 22 to 27 degrees Celsius, while in the southeast of the country it may reach 29 degrees Celsius.
On Friday the ČHMÚ forecasts cloudy skies. The lowest night temperatures will be between 16 and 12 degrees Celsius, in the west and northwest it will be cooler. During the day temperatures will reach 19 to 23 degrees Celsius, in the southeast it may be 25 degrees Celsius.
During the weekend it will be partly cloudy. There will be some precipitation, but gradually decreasing. “The lowest night temperatures will be 12 to 7 degrees Celsius. The highest daytime temperatures will reach 22 degrees Celsius,” writes ČHMÚ.
As of 1 May, the Czech City of Plzeň has banned the consumption of alcoholic beverages in several public spaces.
The goal of the new decree is to increase the safety of citizens and protect young people. In addition to this, the ban further aims to reduce vandalism as individuals who commit offences against property typically do so whilst under the influence of alcohol.
Beyond this, the ban should also contribute to the creation of a cleaner city as people will no longer litter or throw away empty bottles in Plzeň’s parks and streets. In other words, the decree will improve the overall quality of life in several areas in the municipality.
On its municipal website, the City lists four key areas where people can no longer consume alcohol. The affected localities are parts of the city centre, the Czech Brothers Square, the area around the Luna na Bory Shopping Centre, and the U Ježíška area along the banks of the Radbuza River to the Malostranská Bridge.
To protect children and young people, the decree also prohibits people from consuming alcohol within a 50-metre radius from schools and school facilities as well as public transport platforms. Commenting on the ban, Mayor of Pilsen Pavel Šindelář shared:
“I believe that with the help of this measure, we will be able to ensure order in the given localities and people will feel better there. The goal is not for Pilsen’s residents to not have a beer in their favourite garden, at a concert, or to drink on New Year’s Eve.”
Taking this further, it is important to note that there are several exceptions to the new decree as individuals will still be allowed to consume alcohol in gardens that are part of restaurants, pubs, cafes, and bars.
The ban also does not apply to permitted events such as markets and cultural or sporting events.
In 2023, the municipality will evaluate how the ban has impacted life in the city to make any necessary reforms.
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Satisfaction with the performance of Czech President Miloš Zeman stands at 20 percent, suggests a poll conducted by Kantar CZ for Czech Television that was published on Sunday. This is the lowest figure since the polling agency began tracking such data.
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The 26th Prague Marathon was won on Sunday by Nobert Kigen of Kenya in the men’s category with a time of 2:07:54 and in the women’s category by Ethiopia’s Bekelech Borecha in a time of 2:22:56.
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As of 1 May, Pilsen has banned the consumption of alcoholic beverages in several public spaces. The goal of the new decree is to increase the safety of citizens, and reduce vandalism as individuals who commit offences against property typically do so whilst under the influence of alcohol.
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Almost 90% of Czechs support humanitarian help for Ukraine to defend against Russia and help refugees fleeing the conflict, according to an April survey conducted by the agency Focus. However, at the same time, 60% of respondents said that they see the level of support for Ukraine as too generous and believe that this will cost Czechs in the long term.
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The City of Brno, together with the Brno Transport Company (DPMB) will deliver two trams and six trolleybuses to Ukraine. A part of the donation was symbolically accepted by the representative of the Kharkiv municipality, Alexey Yurievich Palant, on Komenského náměstí today.
The most eagerly awaited event in the Czech running calendar has celebrated its winners today, with Kenyan Nobert Kigen becoming “The New King” of the Volkswagen Prague Marathon, with a time of 2:07:54, and the Ethiopian Bekelech Borecha triumphant among the women, in 2:2:56.
Jiří Homoláč garnered a third Czech title, saying “Reaching the thirtieth kilometer, I started to feel a cramp in my foot, so I was afraid I would not finish, but I made it,” he rejoiced. Marcela Joglova was the best Czech woman.
“The sunny weather was not conducive to fast times, but more importantly, it certainly contributed to a beautiful race and a great atmosphere,” RunCzech Organising Committee President Carlo Capalbo, whose race boasts the World Athletics Elite Label Race, stated.
RunCzech has been organizing marathons in Prague for more than a quarter of a century. Due to this fact, the Czech capital has become one of the world´s top 10 cities in terms of race quality and popularity among the people.
The economic, social and environmental benefits of the race for the city are priceless. According to an independent study, RunCzech races bring 28 million Euro in direct economic benefits to Prague, much needed after two difficult years for the city.
For the complete results click here.
In 2019, the Czech capital set a goal of planting a million new trees on its territory within eight years.
Since the adoption of this plan, 370,000 new trees have been planted in Prague to date. These appear in emerging forest parks, city parks, orchards, and in the streets of the city.
Trees play an irreplaceable role in adapting the city to climate change. “We also add trees to parks in the city centre, and plant them along brooks and ponds. City trees can also bear fruits, that is why we revitalize and set up orchards. Last year we planted a new and unique chestnut tree alley in Prague. Our goal is to add trees to the city streets. An integral part of our activities is the care of newly planted trees, which is essential especially in the first five years,” says the Deputy Mayor of Prague for the Environment Petr Hlubuček.
In addition to new forests and forest parks, the city planted new trees in existing parks in the city centre, especially in two major green areas of Stromovka and Petřín in 2020. The aim of the Prague municipality is to plant trees even in the streets of the city.
“Every tree in our city is very valuable when facing climate challenges. The new trees in the city are an investment for the future. I am pleased that we are able to plant and protect city trees not only in the outskirts but also in the centre,” says Zdeněk Hřib, Mayor of Prague.
Thus, in the next phase of revitalization new lime trees will be planted in the iconic Wenceslas Square. “People can monitor the number of trees planted in Prague on the zastromujprahu.cz website, where we regularly publish their number, and plans for the upcoming months. Volunteers can also actively participate in planting activities and register for one of the planting events, for example, this autumn, if the epidemic conditions are good,” concludes Zdeněk Hřib.
In order to prevent parasitic diseases in trees, Prague foresters carefully plan suitable species selection before planting new seedlings. Deciduous species prevail since they have naturally been dominant in the location.
On May 8, the Czechs celebrate Victory Day, or Den vítězství as it is known in Czech, to commemorate the end of World War II in Europe. Several public facilities will open their doors to the general public for free:
Hrzánský palác
The Czech government invites you to visit the interiors of the Hrzánský palác. From 1894 to 1896 there lived the future first president of Czechoslovakia Tomas Garrigue Masaryk. Today the building serves presentation purposes – here the Czech Premier welcomes important guests.
The palace will be open from 10:00 to 18:00. The tour will last about 40 minutes (the last one will start at 17:00).
Address: Loretánská 177/9, Praha 1
Chamber of Deputies
The Chamber of Deputies of the Czech Parliament (Poslanecká sněmovna) will also open its doors to visitors. During the hour-long visit, guests will be able to see the main meeting room, conference rooms of various committees and other facilities.
Opening hours are from 09:00 to 16:00.
Address: Thunovský palác, Sněmovní 4, Prague 1
Senate of the Czech Republic
The Senate offers to inspect its main building – the Waldstein Palace (Valdštejnské náměstí 17/4, Malá Strana) and the Kolovratský palác (Nerudova 193/III, Malá Strana), where the Government of Czechoslovakia was informed in 1938 of the signing of the Munich Agreement.
Both facilities will be open from 09:00 to 16:00.
The Ministry of Labor of the Czech Republic
Tomorrow you will have a unique opportunity to visit the historical office building that is usually closed to the public. Guests will be met personally by Minister of Labor Marian Jurecka. The guided tour will last 30 minutes. Participants are required to carry identification.
Opening hours are from 09:00 till 15:30.
Address: Na Poříčním právu 1, Prague 2 – Nové Město
A Czech MMA fighter is being investigated by local law enforcement for praising Russia’s invasion of Ukraine while also yearning for the war to reach his homeland.
Filip Grznár, 37, made his controversial statements in a video uploaded to Facebook. He celebrated the ongoing war in Ukraine before launching into an explanation of why war represents the purest form of “freedom.”
“There is no right in a war. In a war, you can commit angry crime, which I like, it’s a dream,” Grznár said. “And only the strongest will survive. I just want there to be a war in the Czech Republic. I want a war. It’s the only freedom, because you know you can grab at any time and kill anyone at the same time. And that’s just good. I want a war in the Czech Republic and I will do everything for it.”
Grznár’s comments quickly drew the attention of Czech police, who charged him with inciting crime. “ He is accused of an offense of incitement to a crime, for which he faces a maximum of two years if he is found guilty,” a source close to the investigation informed Práva.
The MMA fighter and former bodybuilder later apologized for the recording, claiming he was drunk and that he “didn’t mean any of that.
This is not the first time that Grznár has made headlines for problematic statements. In 2017, he was fined CZK 15,000 for celebrating the murder of a Romani van driver in the city of Chomutov and threatening to murder other members of the Roma community himself.
“If they do something, I’m going for the gypsies,” he said at the time. “I’ll kill them.”
Grznár has also been known to pose in T-shirts emblazoned with phrases such as “refugees are not welcome.”
Soviet military commander Ivan Konev may be stripped of his honorary citizenship in Prague city, the Czech News Agency reported.
This initiative was launched by the mayor of Prague Zdeněk Hřib. Next Monday, May 9, it will be considered by the city council.
Konev, who led the Red Army’s liberation of Prague, became an honorary citizen of the city in June 1945. A street in the Žižkov district is named after him and there have been calls to rename it in recent years.
“The act of conferring honorary citizenship should be considered in the context of the time and further historical development of Czechoslovakia. We have to remember that the troops under the command of Konev entered Prague after the agreement between Prague insurgents and the leadership of the German-fascist garrison leaving the city. Moreover, we cannot forget Konev’s decision to bomb Mlada Boleslav on May 9, 1945, the day after the end of the war, where 148 local residents, including children, were killed”, wrote Hřib in his initiative.
In April 2020, the authorities of Prague 6 removed the monument of Marshal Ivan Konev from a public space. The statue was sent to the not-yet-existent Museum of Memory of the 20th century.
The monument to Ivan Stepanovich Konev was unveiled on May 9, 1980, on the 35th anniversary of the liberation of Czechoslovakia.
It was located in the same district as the Embassy of the Russian Federation and not far from the Hotel International Prague, the largest Stalinist architecture building in Prague, built in 1952-1954 – and thus in a space with a large symbolic load.
Its creation was not the result of the “spontaneous reaction of the Czechoslovak people”, such as the monument to the liberation of Prague by the Red Army in Smichov – the later famous “pink tank”.
The Czech Republic is ready to raise its stake in a key pipeline and invest to increase its capacity and bring an end to the country’s partial dependence on Russian oil, Industry and Trade Minister Jozef Sikela said on Friday.
The TAL pipeline carries oil from the Italian port of Trieste to Austria and Germany, from which another pipeline links it to the Czech Republic.
Czech refineries, owned by PKN Orlen now take about half their crude oil through TAL, and the rest through the Druzhba pipeline from Russia.
The Czech government holds a stake of 5% in TAL, which is also owned by major European and other oil companies.
“We are ready to invest more than our proportionate part,” Sikela said in a briefing shown online. “We are also prepared to raise our stake, because one of the things we are seeking is to get almost all the extra capacity.”
Negotiations were being held “non-stop”, he added.
Partial dependence on Russian oil has prompted the Czech government to seek a temporary exemption from a European Union ban on such imports that is being discussed as part of sanctions on Russia for its invasion of Ukraine.
The European Commission proposed on Friday to exempt the Czech Republic from the ban until mid-2024.
Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala said the changed proposal was going in the right direction, but talks continued.
Sikela said TAL could now raise capacity slightly by pumping more oil, but a larger expansion project to install more powerful turbines was needed. That could be completed by the end of 2024 if other shareholders agreed.
Sikela said the government also sought to secure capacity in liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminals in countries such as the Netherlands, in addition to Germany and Poland. The Czech Republic takes nearly 100% of its natural gas from Russia.