Czech fans can already anticipate the arrival of big stars in 2024 as concert tours and summer festivals bring them to stage. On January 13, the renowned tenor Andrea Bocelli will kick off the list of great musical names. Performing at Prague’s O2 Arena, he will showcase opera arias and popular melodies accompanied by the Czech National Symphony Orchestra. He was nominated for the Grammy Award six times throughout his career and also has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. He has performed for four American presidents, three Popes and the Royal Family, as well as the Olympic Games and World Cup Opening ceremonies. Depeche Mode continues to tour for “Memento Mori,” the album released in the aftermath of the passing of founding member and keyboardist Andrew Fletcher. Having sold more than 100 million records and played to more than 35 million fans worldwide, Depeche Mode remains an ever-evolving and singularly influential musical force. In Prague, the synth-rock band will perform two concerts on February 22 and 24. The British guitar quartet, The 1975, will bring their pan-European tour “Still… At Their Very Best” to the Fortuna sports hall in Prague. Described as an “anxious,...
2024 will offer Czech citizens several “long weekends” with public holidays falling on a Friday or Monday. January 1st coincides with New Year’s Day and the commemoration of the Restoration Day of the Independent Czech State. This Monday celebration, coupled with the preceding weekend, grants us a delightful three-day break. Looking ahead, the next long weekend in 2024 aligns with the Easter holidays, starting on Good Friday, March 29. State Holidays Calendar for 2024: Mark Your Long Weekends January 1: Day of the Restoration of the Independent Czech State (Monday) May 8: Victory Day (Wednesday) July 5: Day of the Slavic Saints Cyril and Methodius (Friday) July 6: Jan Hus day (Saturday) September 28: Czech Statehood Day (Saturday) October 28: Statehood Day (Monday) November 17: Day of the Struggle for Freedom and Democracy (Sunday) Much like the Easter holidays, Labour Day, falling on a Wednesday according to the calendar, offers a day of rest. A week later, Czechia comes together to celebrate Victory Day as a national holiday. The third long weekend of the year unfolds during the summer holidays. On July 5, Czechs honor the arrival of Cyril and Methodius, followed by the remembrance of Jan Hus’s day. Days of...
Based on frequently asked questions, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic presents the following recommendations to use the short name “Česko/Czechia” in international context. In this text, we explain when to use the short form “Czechia” when presenting the Czech Republic abroad. 1. Distinction between short and formal country names First of all, it is important to remember that both the short (geographical) name and the formal (political) name serve as official names of the given country. In the case of the Czech state, the formal name is “the Czech Republic” (“Česká republika” in Czech) and the short form Czechia (“Česko” in Czech) stands as its equivalent. Both names are listed in the relevant UN databases. 2. Legal basis for a country’s short name The basis for the recognition of short forms of country names in the international community is a completed process of their national standardisation under the applicable laws of the country in question. Pursuant to Section 4 of Act No. 200/1994 Coll. (the Surveying Act), the Czech Office for Surveying, Mapping and the Land Registry (CUZK), with its expert Nomenclature Committee is the authority competent to standardise the names of geographical objects (settlements and natural landmarks). The one-word name “Česko” and its language mutations (including the English...
Czech Interior Minister Vít Rakušan (STAN) urges restraint on New Year’s Eve fireworks following the recent mass shooting at a Prague university. In a letter to mayors, Rakušan emphasizes the need to avoid escalating trauma in the wake of these incidents. Mr. Rakušan also called on members of the public limit their use of pyrotechnics this year, extending the plea through social media on the X network. Olomouc town hall aligns with this sentiment, canceling its New Year’s Eve fireworks display due to the tragic event and the city’s hydrological situation. In a parallel appeal, experts, including Adam Suchý, a clinical psychologist and representative of the Czech Republic in the Global Psychology Alliance, petition Prime Minister Petr Fiala to curtail pyrotechnics at the national level this year. Suchý underscores the psychological impact, particularly on survivors and the bereaved, as these explosive sounds may trigger symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder and anxiety. Obejděme se letos na Silvestra bez ohňostrojů a zábavní pyrotechniky. Požádal jsem o to dnes dopisem všechny starosty a starostky, ale obracím se s osobní prosbou i na vás. Před pár dny jsme zažili dva násilné činy spojené se střelbou. To nejmenší, co můžeme udělat pro ty, koho… —...
Czech police are currently investigating more than 50 reported crimes or misdemeanours by various people in connection with Thursday’s shooting at Charles University’s Faculty of Arts in Prague, a police spokesperson told the Czech News Agency on Wednesday. These messages are primarily found on social media platforms, comprising posts and comments. “We are currently addressing over five dozen distinct posts across the country, mostly on social media. They typically involve the dissemination of disturbing messages, threats, or endorsement of criminal offenses. On December 25 alone, Prague’s criminal investigators documented seven new cases of threats (‘now it’s my turn’ and similar expressions) or approval of the shooting at the Faculty of Philosophy at Charles University. ‘The vast majority of these individuals have already been identified,” the police stated. One person posted an image of a rifle on social media with the caption “Now it’s my turn.” When confronted by the police – who charged him with violating the law against ‘violence against a group of persons’ – he promptly issued an apology post. He claimed it was merely a misguided joke and clarified that the rifle was not real. However, the act of “re-posting” did not absolve him. “Such ‘humor’ is...
The Czech Labour Office registered 284,525 job vacancies in March of this year, whereas the number of registered job seekers was 273,478 at that time. Even though the number of vacant job places and job seekers is very close, Czech companies still are facing shortages in several sectors. According to EURES, employers are consistently seeking to hire new employees, with a particular focus on roles in blue-collar and highly-skilled occupations. The same source also noted that the demand for skilled craftsmen remains high over the long term. “For 71.6 per cent of the reported vacancies, employers are looking for candidates with primary or lower education, while 70.9 per cent of the vacancies are suitable for foreigners,” said the European Labour Authority, EURES. The majority of professionals that Czech employers are interested in hiring, are related to construction and building trades, manufacturing and assembly, transportation, culinary and general services. In particular, the ten most sought-after occupations by Czech employers are: Building construction workers Forklift operators Warehouse workers Assembly workers CNC machine operators Truck and tractor-trailer drivers Cooks Bricklayers Masons and tilers Cleaners As per location, Prague has the highest demand for new employees, with 78,112 job vacancies, followed by the Central...
Czechs are observing a day of mourning for the victims of the tragic shooting at the Prague Faculty of Arts on Thursday. The Office of the President of the Republic lowered the flags at Prague Castle to half-mast on Friday afternoon. In response to the tragedy, the Castle Guard also canceled the musical accompaniment for the changing of the guard and other planned Christmas musical performances. Today at 11 am, a memorial service for the victims and their families is scheduled at St. Vitus Cathedral in Prague Castle. Prague Archbishop Jan Graubner will lead the mass in remembrance. At midday precisely people around the country will hold a minute of silence for the victims. During the state mourning period, cultural events typically take a subdued tone, with many cities canceling concerts, performances, and shows. Sporting events face cancellations, and Christmas markets in various places will cease their musical activities. The public is encouraged to observe a silent memorial for the 14 victims of the tragic shooting. The last time the Czech Republic declared a state mourning was in 2020 following the death of Senate President Jaroslav Kubera. Masses are being held around the country and people are laying flowers and...
At least 14 people were killed and another 25 injured after a gunman opened fire on Thursday at Charles University in Prague, according to local police. The shooting, in a country where gun violence is rare, is the country’s deadliest in modern history. “It’s a horrible crime, something the Czech Republic has never experienced,” said Czech Interior Minister Vit Rakusan on Tuesday. International firearm injury prevention organization Gunpolicy.org reports that, in 2019—the last year with available gun violence data on their site—there were 195 total gun deaths in the Czech Republic. In 2018, the number stood at 170, and the year before that, there were 174 deaths. By contrast, the United States has reported more than 15,000 firearm deaths in 2019, excluding suicides, according to the Gun Violence Archive. Gun laws in the Czech Republic are generally lax compared to other European nations, though citizens still have to pass a multi-part test, background check, and health clearance to obtain a firearm. Czech authorities revealed the gunman involved in Thursday’s shooting legally owned several guns. They added that the act was premeditated, calling it a “well thought out, horrible act,” per the AP. Police have not released information about the suspect’s connection to any terrorist organization, or a possible...
After an absence of 18 years, the well-known Carrefour chain is set to return to the Czech Republic, marking a significant development in its international strategy. Partnering with JIP Retail, which operates 14 grocery stores across the country, Carrefour is gearing up to reintroduce its products to Czech customers next year. “This marks another crucial milestone in Carrefour’s international strategy, with a specific focus on Eastern Europe,” states Patrick Lasfargues, CEO of Carrefour International Partnership, emphasizing the brand’s commitment to growth in the region. Notably, Carrefour had a presence in the Czech market until 2006. JIP Retail, expressing enthusiasm about the collaboration, aims to offer an affordable selection of quality products encompassing both food and non-food categories. Jan Plšek, President of JIP Retail, highlights the complementary nature of Carrefour’s product range to their existing assortment. In a report by Kupi.cz, it is revealed that Carrefour’s offerings will span fresh and long-lasting food, including healthy, alternative, and organic products. Additionally, the chain will provide a diverse range of basic drugstore items, cosmetics, cleaning products, pet food, and more. With this exciting development, Czech consumers can look forward to the return of Carrefour, not just as a grocery store but as a...
Understand the intricacies of property sales tax when selling real estate in the Czech Republic.
The COVID pandemic brought many hardships to small businesses and restaurants, however, it’s important also to consider the positives that it brought in terms of innovation and creativity. That’s what makes Dash Kitchen an exemplary example of these achievements, behind the ideas of Mo, an Egyptian native who grew up in UAE, but studied here in Czechia at CVUT (Czech Technical University in Prague). Combining his academic background in electrical engineering and computer science with his family’s business experience in fashion and clothes manufacturing in Kuwait, Mo left the technical world behind to bring his new ideas to light in entrepreneurship. Instilling his passion for food, accompanied by his experience as a line cook at various restaurants, Mo turned his culinary skills into a successful enterprise with the creation of Dash Kitchen when the pandemic hit, essentially cultivating an idea of a ‘cloud kitchen’ specifically catered for take-out and deliveries. Since then, Dash Kitchen has grown steadfast into the post-COVID era where customers are still enjoying the creative concept’s ability to provide different menus spread across three locations in Prague. There’s certainly a lot to choose from for those looking to eat from the comfort of their own home, in...
Pilsner Urquell has announced that it will not be sponsoring next year’s Summer Olympic Games in Paris due to the International Olympic Committee (IOC)’s decision to allow Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete in the event. Following Radovan Vitek’s CPI Property Group, which also terminated its cooperation with the Czech Olympic Committee, this move underscores a growing protest within the Czech business community. “Pilsner Urquell will not support the upcoming Games under the current conditions and is withdrawing from all communications related to the Olympics,” the beer producer declared. The company remains committed to financial support for Czech athletes, redirecting funds initially intended for the Olympics to benefit local sports and athletes. The decision to withdraw from all communications related to the Summer Olympics in Paris is a joint effort with the Czech Olympic Committee, marking a departure from previous campaigns the company had undertaken. Zuzana Dudová, marketing manager of Pilsner Urquell, expressed disappointment in the IOC’s decision. “We have always supported Czech Olympic athletes in the name of shared values such as fairness, humanism, and belonging. Unfortunately, the IOC’s decision does not align with these principles,” Dudová explained. While supporting Czech athletes, Pilsner Urquell emphasizes celebrating their achievements at events consistent with...
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