Russia is initiating criminal prosecutions against over 50 politicians from the Czech Republic, Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia for the removal of Soviet-era monuments. Among those targeted are Prague 6 Mayor Jakub Stárek and predecessor Ondřej Kolář for removing a statue of Soviet Marshal Ivan Konev. Mr. Kolář said he was “in good company and that the news had motivated him to continue his work”. He headed the district when a monument to Soviet commander Ivan Konev was taken down in 2020. Russian law provides for up to five years in prison but Czech officials condemn the prosecutions as “unenforceable”. Konev is regarded as a hero in Russia for retaking much of Eastern Europe from Nazi German forces during World War II. But many Czechs view him an enforcer of Soviet rule after the war. He led the Soviet troops that entered Prague after it had been liberated from the Nazis by resistance forces. But he also commanded the troops that crushed the 1956 anti-Soviet uprising in Hungary and helped build the Berlin Wall. Some historians say Konev also participated in planning the 1968 Soviet-led invasion of Czechoslovakia. President Vladimir Putin has accused Russia’s detractors of diminishing the Soviet war...
The Czech Republic, famous for its beer culture, is seeing a shift in pub culture. Rising costs and changing customer habits are forcing traditional pubs to adapt. The price of a pint in the Czech Republic is expected to climb above 100 CZK. However, pubs that weathered the recent crisis are unlikely to go out of business entirely. Following the January tax hike, nearly two-thirds of Czech restaurants raised draft beer prices. Increases varied, ranging from 3 to 10 crowns per pint. Despite this, fears of widespread closures have subsided in the gastronomy sector. In recent years, many classic pubs and “fours” (pubs focused on cheap beer and spirits) have disappeared. The decline is attributed to a shift in social habits. The days of after-work pints with colleagues seem to be fading. “We used to get a bunch of regulars every afternoon,” says Stanislav Petřík, a 50-year-old bartender. “They’d all have several beers and a nightcap. That was a steady income. Now they’re gone, due to age or tighter budgets.” Luboš Kastner, a board member of the Association of Small and Medium Enterprises, suggests a new business model for rural pubs. This could involve limited hours or weekend-only operations, especially...
Young people in the Czech Republic are more tolerant of ethnic and national minorities than they were in 2020, and perceive the social exclusion of minority groups, which they believe politicians should address, said Sona Polak from the Culture Ministry, speaking to CTK. The findings came from research by the Czech Council for Children and Youth (CRDM), which surveyed 1,000 respondents aged 15 to 29. The survey focused on young people’s attitudes towards various ethnic, national, religious or sexual minorities. According to the poll, 44% of respondents would be bothered by having a Roma as a neighbour, and around a third said the same of Muslims and immigrants in general. The percentage of young people who would rather distance themselves from Roma people has decreased by 14 percentage points since the last survey; the figure has dropped by 18 percentage points for Muslims and 13 percent for immigrants in general, according to the survey. According to the survey, young people perceive the social exclusion of minorities as an issue. The largest number (64%) perceive the exclusion of former prisoners or juvenile delinquents, while 61% of respondents perceive the exclusion of immigrants and foreign workers. The respondents also perceived problems for...
Pyszková is Czech Republic’s second Miss World, after Taťána Kuchařová earlier won the title in 2006 Czech Republic’s Krystyna Pyszková is the 71st Miss World, besting 111 other contestants from around the world during the pageant’s finals night on Saturday, March 9, in Mumbai, India. She replaced outgoing titleholder Karolina Bielawska of Poland. Born in Třinec, Pyszková is Czech Republic’s second Miss World, after Taťána Kuchařová earlier won the title in 2006. The new Miss World titleholder is also the third winner of a “Big 4” pageant crown for the Czech Republic. In 2012, the European country bagged the Miss Earth crown courtesy of Tereza Fajksová. Miss World is part of the elite “Big 4” pageants in the world, along with Miss Universe, Miss International, and Miss Earth. In the last years, Miss World had delays in staging its pageant. After the 2019 pageant was held in the United Kingdom, it took three years before the pageant was held again in 2022, due to COVID-19 restrictions. The 71st edition was supposed to be held in December 2023 but was later moved to March this year. Visualizza questo post su Instagram Un post condiviso da Miss World (@missworld)
Despite a slight rise in the number of unemployed people, the Czech Republic’s unemployment rate stayed unchanged at 4% in February compared to January, according to data released by the Czech Labor Office. While the number of unemployed individuals increased slightly by 561 to 296,107, job vacancies also went up by 1,796 to 268,579. However, analysts warn of a potential economic slowdown due to a decrease in job vacancies compared to the previous year. “The decline in job vacancies suggests a drop in demand across various sectors,” noted Miroslav Novák, an analyst at Akcenta. Despite this concern, experts predict the unemployment rate will remain below 4% for the rest of 2024. They attribute this to cautious employers and a generally positive economic outlook. Ústí nad Labem Region has the highest unemployment rate at 6%, while Prague boasts the lowest at 2.9%. Most job openings require basic education levels, and around two-thirds are suitable for foreign candidates. Prague leads in job demand, offering nearly 80,000 vacancies. On International Women’s Day, the gender gap in the labor market came into focus. Analysts highlighted the higher unemployment rate faced by women compared to men. Martin Jánský, General Manager of Randstad Czech Republic, emphasized...
What makes one passport more powerful than another? The best-known passport ranking, from London-based investment migration consultancy Henley & Partners, focuses solely on visa-free travel. Essentially, the more countries a citizen can visit without a visa, the better. In that ranking, six nations—France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Singapore and Spain—tie for the top position, with 194 visa-free destinations apiece. But Dubai-based immigration and tax consulting firm Nomad Capitalist believes evaluating passport strength is far more complicated. “While most indices—and most people—think of a passport only in terms of travel privileges, we understand that citizens of different countries deal with very different requirements to pay tax, live freely, comply with regulations, and avoid scrutiny when traveling,” according to the 2024 Nomad Capitalist Passport Index, which weighs five criteria: visa-free travel (50%), taxation of citizens (20%), global perception (10%), dual citizenship (10%) and personal freedom (10%). In Nomad Capitalist’s eighth annual ranking, all of the top five passports and eight of the top 10 belong to European nations. Switzerland jumped from No. 3 last year to take the top spot in 2024, with Nomad Capitalist noting the country’s “exceptionally high levels of liberty and privacy.” Furthermore, “the country’s neutrality ensures that Swiss nationals...
The Czech Parliament’s upper house, the Senate followed the lower house on Wednesday to approve changes in the gun law that tighten requirements for owning a weapon following the worst mass killing in the nation’s history. The legislation now must be signed by President Petr Pavel before becoming law, which is expected. On Dec. 22, a lone shooter killed 14 people and wounded dozens before killing himself at a Charles University building in downtown Prague. The assailant was a 24-year-old student who had a proclivity for firearms and a license to own eight guns, including two long guns. Authorities said he had no criminal record and therefore did not attract the attention of the authorities. The lower house gave the green light to the new law on Jan 26. Under the new law, gun owners would have to undergo a medical check every five years, not every 10 years, as they do now. Businesses would be required to report suspicious purchases of guns and ammunition to the police, while doctors would gain access to databases to find out if their patients are gun owners. Parliamentary debate on the legislation had already begun before that shooting. Interior Minister Vit Rakusan said...
The Czech Republic will have a brand-new free-to-air TV channel next month as Warner TV launches on 2 April. It will be managed as part of the local Czech linear Warner Bros. Discovery portfolio. Vaclav Palecek, Distribution and Business Development at Warner Bros. Discovery in the Czech Republic & Slovakia, said: “Starting April, Czech viewers will be able to enjoy the wide range of content, including movies and series, on Warner TV. We are close to launching our first free-to-air channel in the market and we will bring a great content library on-air for all the viewers, from classical films to popular series.” Warner TV’s television signal will be distributed by Ceské Radiokomunikace. In the Czech Republic, Warner Bros. Discovery operates 18 pay-TV linear channels (Discovery, Eurosport 1, Eurosport 2, Eurosport 4K, HGTV, TLC, Travel Channel, Investigation Discovery, Cartoon Network, Cartoonito, CNN, Food Network, Animal Planet, HBO & HBO 2 & HBO 3, Cinemax & Cinemax 2) and the HBO Max streaming platform. Last March, Radiokomunikace started broadcasting the AMC channel and later the domestic channel A11. In December they launched Hit TV and Sporty TV. Currently, České Radiokomunikace operates over three dozen TV channels.
Czech banks are urging customers to think twice before using Euronet ATMs, citing concerns over unclear fees charged for displaying account balances. Reporter Janek Rubes has been raising concerns about Euronet’s practices for some time, and recently highlighted a new fee that some customers may be unknowingly paying. Several banks are advising against using Euronet ATMs due to a fee charged for displaying account balances, even if the customer doesn’t request it. Ondřej Kozák, director of Euronet ČR, claims the banks themselves set these fees, and Euronet has no control over them. However, the banks argue that Euronet’s service is not transparent to their customers. In a recent video, Rubes pointed out that Euronet ATMs charge customers for balance information without displaying it after they enter their PIN. Customers are presented with two options: “Cash & Balance” and “Other.” Selecting “Cash & Balance” under the assumption it simply displays the balance triggers a fee before any money is withdrawn. “We introduced this feature in good faith, believing it would be convenient for customers to see their balance along with their withdrawal,” said Kozak. “Euronet doesn’t charge for this service. Fees are always determined by the customer’s bank, and in...
A new report by the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that more than a third of the Czech Republic’s population will be obese by 2030. This concerning trend extends to children, with the number of obese youngsters also on the rise. According to the Ministry of Health’s strategic document “Health 2030,” the proportion of obese women in the Czech Republic has increased from 26% to over a third in just five years. Men are not far behind, with obesity rates also steadily climbing. The Ministry highlights the significant burden that obesity places on the Czech healthcare system, estimating annual costs of CZK 30 billion. The wider economic impact is estimated to be around CZK 100 billion. Dr. Michal Haluzik, head of the Centre of Diabetology at the Institute of Clinical and Experimental Medicine (IKEM), emphasizes the serious health risks associated with obesity. “Obesity significantly increases the chances of developing type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases,” he warned in a press release for World Obesity Day. Over one million Czechs currently live with diabetes, and obesity raises the risk of developing it by up to 80%. Additionally, obesity is linked to various cardiovascular issues, including heart attacks, high blood pressure, and...
Imagine cruising down the Vltava River, driving through Prague’s bustling streets in a Trabant, and encountering the occasional trdelník vendor – all within the gritty, action-packed world of Grand Theft Auto. That’s the imaginative concept brought to life by Ondřej Svoboda, who used artificial intelligence (AI) to create a one-of-a-kind trailer: “GTA Prague.” Svoboda, a creative who dabbles in illustration, photography, and videography, leveraged AI tools like Midjourney, RunwayML, and Suno to craft this unique glimpse into a Prague reimagined as a Grand Theft Auto playground. His trailer incorporates the city’s iconic landmarks, from the Charles Bridge to the Vltava Riverbanks, all imbued with a GTA-inspired aesthetic. Svoboda’s fascination with AI-powered creativity stems from its potential to unlock new avenues for artistic expression. “These tools open up a whole new world of possibilities to bring ideas and thoughts to life,” he shared in an interview with CNN Prima NEWS. “I’m actively exploring them to see what they can do.” Inspiration struck Svoboda while his wife was playing the classic GTA II. He stumbled upon AI-generated images of “GTA: Egypt” online and thought, “Why not GTA: Prague?” The result is a tongue-in-cheek trailer that blends the gritty charm of GTA with...
The Czech Republic experienced its warmest February on record in 2024, exceeding even the average temperatures of most Marches. According to the Czech Hydrometeorological Institute (ČHMÚ), the month’s average temperature reached 5.7 degrees Celsius, a remarkable 6.1 degrees higher than the normal from 1991 to 2020. “February 2024 was significantly warmer (by 2.0 degrees Celsius) than the warmest February previously recorded between 1966 and 2020,” stated ČHMÚ. “Such a significant positive deviation from the norm hasn’t been observed for any month since 1961.” During the first half of February, ten days saw an average temperature deviation exceeding seven degrees Celsius compared to the norm. “This February was even warmer than most Marches, ranking as the fifth warmest March based on average temperature,” ČHMÚ concluded.
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